Forbes Vetted is a section of Forbes.com for discovering top-performing products that are worth the investment. Our expert editors give you straightforward shopping advice on everything from home goods and tech to fashion, gifts and more, plus the inside scoop on what today's leaders and tomorrow's visionaries are using to step up their game. Our guidance is the result of world-class research and real-life testing: Each product we feature is carefully and thoroughly evaluated to power our readers’ success.The Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards is our inaugural list of the 50 top-performing smart home products of the year that’s cultivated with our mission in mind. Over the next several months, our editors will determine our 2026 list of winners with deep research, consultation with industry experts and extensive hands-on testing. We will be evaluating contenders across product types to ultimately name the best-in-class smart home products of the year. In preparation for the first edition of the awards, which will launch in September 2026, we’re inviting submissions for consideration. If you’d like to submit a product for consideration, read on: Here’s everything you need to know about the submission process for the 2026 Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards.How To Submit Products For The 2026 Forbes Vetted Smart Home AwardsTo submit a product for the 2026 Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, complete the submission form by clicking HERE. Want to save this story for later?No need to bookmark—get it straight to your inbox.We've sent this story to your inbox.For early submissions, there is a non-refundable $295 early entry fee for each product submission. If you are submitting more than one (1) product for consideration, each product must be submitted separately, each with a nonrefundable $295 early entry fee. The deadline for early submissions is Sunday, May 31st, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. After completing the submission form, please email your receipt of payment to smarthomeawards@forbes.com.If you would like to submit a product for consideration after 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, we will be accepting general submissions until Friday, July 31st, 2026 at 11:59 p.m EST. There is a nonrefundable $395 entry fee for each general submission. If you are submitting more than one (1) product for consideration, each product must be submitted separately, each with a nonrefundable $395 entry fee. After completing the submission form, please email your receipt of payment to smarthomeawards@forbes.com. Product Qualifications We will be awarding products in the following categories: Home SecurityHome EntertainmentHome OfficeSleep & WellnessKitchen & AppliancesCleaningOutdoor & GarageYou can submit any product that falls within one of these categories that will be available to purchase by September 2026, when the awards will be announced. Limited-edition products will not be considered. Submission ProcessTo ensure that we have the resources to carry out our rigorous testing process for the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, we require a product submission fee of $295 for early submission (through May 31st, 2026) or $395 for regular submission (through July 31st, 2026). You can submit as many products as you would like, but each requires a separate entry. Sample Requests And Our Product Testing ProcessOnce we review all submissions, we will reach out to the provided contact to request product samples for testing. Please note: We will only reach out for samples for products that fit within our awards categories and for those with which we have not already had hands-on testing experience. The testing window begins in April 2026 and will continue on a long-term basis until the awards are announced in September 2026. Erica Puisis for ForbesFor the avoidance of doubt, any products submitted for consideration via this submission process will be considered along with products that have already been vetted and potentially recommended via Forbes Vetted. Regardless of how the product has come to us for consideration, all products will be reviewed using the same criteria and have the same opportunity of being named a winner. In the event we do not receive an entry for one or more categories we deem meets the standards we have set for the 2026 Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, we reserve the right to not name a winner for such category(ies).Once the product is in hand, we will test it for up to 12 weeks and evaluate it against the following criteria: quality, value, ease of use, performance, innovation and warranties. We also consult a range of industry experts across categories to better understand what qualities to consider when naming our winners, plus the best rubrics to employ for testing. Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards SealIf your product is chosen to be featured in the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, you will be given the option to enter into a paid license agreement with us for the use of our awards seal, plus quotes from our reviewers and other assets, to use for your promotional purposes. For more information about Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards licensing opportunities and their fees, please reach out to forbesvetted@wrightsmedia.com. Use of Forbes intellectual property, including the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards seal or logo, without our permission, is forbidden.Additional Term & ConditionsBy submitting an entry to the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, you agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless Forbes Media LLC, its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, retailers, and advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability or damages which may arise out of participation in the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards program. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.Released Parties are not responsible for errors or problems of any kind relating to or in connection with the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, whether printing, typographical, technical, computer, network, human, mechanical, electronic or otherwise, including, without limitation, errors or problems which may occur in connection with the administration of the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, the review of entries, the announcement of the winners, or in any Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards-related materials. Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, who are acting in a disruptive or unsportsmanlike manner or who are otherwise not in compliance with these terms as solely determined by us will be disqualified.By submitting an entry to the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, you accept and agree to these terms, which may be updated at any time at our sole discretion, as well as our decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards. Any changes we make to these terms or the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards will be effective immediately on notice, which may be given either by posting the new terms on the site or via e-mail. Your continued participation after such notice will be deemed acceptance of such changes. You should review these terms periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version. You will always be able to tell when the version was last updated by checking the publish date at the top of the article. All questions or disputes regarding the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards, including without limitation, those involving eligibility, participation, fraud and abuse will be resolved by us.Your entry also constitutes permission for us and our designees to use your name, company name and logo, product name and image, likeness and/or statements about the product and/or the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards for advertising, trade, promotional and other purposes in any and all media now or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.The Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards shall be governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.Data CollectionInformation collected in connection with the Forbes Vetted Smart Home Awards will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available HERE.Questions?For additional questions, you can reach us at smarthomeawards@forbes.com.