[Skip to Content]

OFFICIAL RULES

1. ELIGIBILITY; METHOD TO ENTER; SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

The CE Pro BEST Product Awards contest (the “Contest”) is only open to legal residents

of the continental U.S. and Canada, who are in the age of majority for their region at the time of participation, and is over the age of 21. Employees of CE Pro, Emerald, and advertising

and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Sponsor”), and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Contest is void where prohibited.

2. START AND END DATES

Entries will be accepted starting on April 23, 2026 8:00 a.m., EST and ending July 31, 2026 11:59 p.m., EST.

3. HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Contest, the participant (“Participant” or “You/Your”) must follow the entry instructions and submission requirements as specified in these Official Rules. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. Exhibitors in each category listed below who enter the program as specified by instructions and rules will be eligible to win trophies and recognition in print/online. One entry per Participant.

Entry Fee:

  • Early-bird rate: $ 547
  • Standard rate: $647 for initial entry
  • For each subsequent entry rate: $597

Each product requires its own separate entry form and fee. No refunds are issued.

Submission Requirements: To complete an entry for the CE Pro BEST Awards, applicants must provide the following information. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required:

  • Manufacturer name, exactly as it should appear in all promotional materials and on awards*
  • Product name, exactly as it should appear in all promotional materials and on awards*
  • Product category*
  • Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)*
  • Product ship date*
  • Indication of whether the product is embargoed until CEDIA Expo 2025*
  • Company logo*
  • Up to ten (10) product images (minimum of one required)*
  • Optional product specifications document
  • Product video (file upload or external link)
  • Description of the product’s design and/or technological innovation (maximum 200 words)*
  • Description of the three (3) most important functional features (maximum 100 words)*
  • Explanation of how the product differentiates from others in its category (maximum 200 words)*
  • Promotional description for use in print and online listings (maximum 50 words)*
  • Relevant social media links

Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for consideration, the submitted product must have either:

  • (a) shipped within the twelve (12) months preceding the July 31, 2026 submission deadline; or
  • (b) be scheduled for release between August 2026 and March 2027.

4. CONDITIONS TO ENTRY

By participating in this Contest, You:

    • agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Rules;
    • represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements;
  • represent and warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third-party proprietary or intellectual property rights; and
  • agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor, its subsidiary and affiliated companies, and all of their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from and against all third party claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, causes of action, suits, and all expenses and costs incidental thereto including reasonable attorneys' fees based upon or arising out of Your negligence or willful misconduct.

If Your entry infringes upon any third-party rights, You will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

5. DESCRIPTION AND VALUE OF THE PRIZE; ODDS OF WINNING.

The categories of the Contest are:

    • Architectural/In-Wall Speakers
    • Floor standing/Bookshelf Speakers/On-Wall Speakers
    • Subwoofers
    • Soundbars
    • Outdoor Speakers
    • AV-over-IP/AV Switchers
    • Media Devices/Servers
    • Amplifiers/AV Receivers
    • TV Displays
    • Video Walls
    • Outdoor Video
    • Projection Screens
    • Projectors
    • Mounts/Lifts/Media Concealment
    • Racks
    • Furniture/Seating
    • Acoustic Treatments
    • Energy Management
    • User Interface Devices (Touchscreens, Keypads, Remotes, Voice Control)
    • Whole-Home Control
    • Best User-Facing App/UI
    • Power Management/Generation/Surge Suppression/Storage
    • Lighting Controls/Accessories
    • Lighting Fixtures (Indoor)
    • Lighting Fixtures (Outdoor)
    • Shades/Drapes
    • Shading Hardware
  • Access Control (Locks, Door Entry, etc)
  • Surveillance Cameras
  • Home Networking Devices (Routers, Access Points, Firewalls, etc)
  • Tools/Testers/Calibration
  • Best Installer App/UI
  • Business Software
  • Cables & Cabling Products
  • Eye Candy Award
  • Innovation Award

The winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner(s)”) for each category will receive a prize as

follows:

  • A trophy presented on the Smart Stage at CEDIA Expo/CIX
  • Exposure on CE Pro.com section with a link to your site
  • Inclusion in the November/December issue of CE Pro magazine
  • Exclusive use of the CE Pro BEST Award Winner logo

The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each prize is USD $1,500. All taxes, duties, and fees associated with prize receipt and use are the sole responsibility of the winner. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Sponsor’s discretion. The prize is non-transferable. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

 

6. JUDGING INFORMATION AND CRITERIA

Sponsor will judge Contest based on such criteria as The product's innovation/technical design, Benefit to the end user & Benefit to the integrator

 

7. NOTIFICATION OF WINNER(S).

Winner(s) will be announced on or before September 2, 2026 during the CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026, and on CE Pro website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Winner(s) will also be notified by email within five (5) days following selection of Winner(s). Sponsor shall have no liability for any Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other

security settings or for any Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If a Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize within ten (10) days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return a completed and executed declaration and release as required, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner may be selected. Receipt by Winner(s) of the prize offered in this Contest is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

8. WINNER’S OBLIGATIONS

Each Winner grants (and agrees to confirm said grant in writing upon the request of

Sponsor) to Sponsor, and those acting pursuant to Sponsor’s direction or control, the right to print, publish, broadcast and use, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the Internet, at any time or times, Winner's name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness and biographical information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without additional consideration and without notice, review or approval.

Further, Winner will be required to complete, sign, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, a Publicity Release (where lawful), and provide evidence of identity and age with a valid state or federally issued identification (i.e. driver’s license or passport), all within fourteen (14) days of prize notification. If said documents are not returned timely, or if prize or prize notification is returned as non-deliverable, or if such Winner is found not to have complied with these Official Rules, declines the prize for any reason, or is ineligible for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, to an alternate Winner.

9. RELEASE

By participating, You release and agree to hold harmless Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injury, loss or damage of any kind to persons (including, without limitation, death) or property, arising directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from or in connection with the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, participation in this Contest, or any Contest-related activity. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN THE EVENT THAT THE PRECEDING RELEASE IS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID OR VOID FOR ANY REASON, THE PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT, BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, (I) ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES; AND (II) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY PARTICIPANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND PARTICIPANT HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIM, ANY OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

10. PRIVACY POLICY

All entry information collected in connection with the Contest shall be accessible by Sponsor. Such information may be used by Sponsor and its partners to contact each entrant directly with marketing or other information. By participating in the Contest, You hereby consent to such use. Subject to the foregoing, all other uses of entrant information will be in

accordance with the Emerald X’s Privacy Policy in effect as of the date of entry. The privacy

policy may be revised from time to time at Emerald’s sole discretion.

11. GOVERNING LAW

By entering, You agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participants and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. All participants hereby consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts located in Orange County, California.

12. WINNER LIST

For the names of the Contest winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your

request to: CE Pro, Emerald, 31910 Del Obispo, Suite 200, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Winner list requests must be received by Sponsor by April 9, 2027.

13. RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned due to causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsor elects to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsor will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and will return the entry fees.

14. SPONSOR.

Emerald X, LLC, 100 Broadway, Floor 14, New York, NY 10005.