The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held annually every January, is one of the most important tech events worldwide. It offers a prime platform for brands to connect with buyers, consumers, media, and other industry professionals. A major highlight of the event is the awards program, which provides a significant opportunity to gain visibility.
You’ve likely heard of the CES Innovation Awards, which recognize cutting-edge products in various categories. Unfortunately, the window for these submissions closed months ago, but keep it on your radar for CES 2026, as the deadline typically comes around in late August.
But let’s shift focus to CES 2025. There are numerous other awards programs that will be announced leading up to January.
CES Picks Awards – Not Free, But Worth the Investment
The CES Picks Awards, organized by leading industry publications, are among the most notable awards tied to CES. These awards are put on by three major outlets: TWICE, Residential Systems, and TechRadar Pro.
Early bird pricing is available at $595 through November 19th, with the final entry deadline set for December 20th ($695 through then). To participate, you’ll need to select the publication that aligns best with your target audience. Here’s a quick guide to each:
- TWICE: Focused on B2B coverage of the tech and consumer electronics industries.
- Residential Systems: Specializes in B2B coverage of the custom installation market.
- TechRadar Pro: A broad tech publication catering to both B2B and B2C audiences.
Free Awards – Open for Entries in Q4
Yes, you read that right—some of the most prestigious CES awards are entirely free to enter!
Every year, Android Authority and SoundGuys partner up for their Best of CES Awards, which highlight top consumer products in categories such as audio, smart home, fitness technology, and more. Products must be announced within a few weeks of CES and should be consumer-focused to qualify.
The good news is that free entries for these awards are already open, with a submission deadline of January 6, 2025.
Techlicious also typically runs its own Top Picks of CES Awards, which have just opened with entry through December 27th.
Other Free CES Awards from Top Publications
In addition to the Android Authority and SoundGuys awards, several other well-known outlets frequently host their own CES awards, often with no entry fee. These publications include:
- Tom’s Guide
- TechRadar
- Android Central
- GamesRadar
- iMore
- Laptop
- PC Gamer
- PC Pro
- Tom’s Hardware
- T3
- What Hi-Fi?
- Windows Central
Each year brings new awards programs, and sometimes even familiar ones disappear. For instance, LifeSavvy and How To Geek previously hosted CES awards but did not run them in 2024—perhaps they’ll return in 2025. Unfortunately, one notable program, the Reviewed Editor’s Choice Awards, will be absent in 2025 due to Reviewed’s closure in November.
It’s also worth noting that some awards remain open for entry as late as January 2nd, so stay vigilant and be sure to check for new opportunities in the days leading up to CES. We wish you success at your 2025 CES showcase.
This guest blog post was provided by our friends over at lotus823, an award-winning integrated marketing communications agency offering a wide range of services that collectively work together to help increase brand visibility both online and offline. Need help promoting your brand before, during, and after a trade show? Get the support you need for maximum trade show exposure and contact lotus823 today!
