The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA) announced a pair of Global Honorees for the 2026 gia Top Window Awards.
The 2026 gia Top Window Global Honorees are:
Small Company Category: Opinel – France
Opinel – France
Large Company Category: Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store – Japan
Hankyu – Japan
Hankyu’s Umeda Main Store was cited by the gia expert jury, according to IHA, for its “excellent continuity of theme and color story, with strong lighting, symmetry and balance throughout the windows. The craftsmanship, movement and flow are especially well considered.”
Opinel was cited by the jury, according to IHA, for its “wonderful use of motion and dimension, creating a strong sense of depth and visual interest.”
The Inspired Home Show and its operator, IHA, are the global sponsors and organizers of the IHA gia (Global Innovation Awards) program.
“The most recent gia Top Window Awards competition had entries from 13 countries, and it is incredibly encouraging to see the creativity and passion that retailers are placing into their window displays,” said Derek Miller, IHA president & CEO.
The 2026 gia Top Window Awards Global Honorees will be showcased during The Inspired Home Show 2027 in Chicago, March 9-11, along with more than 30 additional retailers from around the world selected as winners in the national gia competition this year. All gia winners will be honored at an awards dinner Tuesday, March 9.
Co-sponsoring the country-specific gia Top Window program with IHA are housewares trade publications worldwide that sponsor national gia programs in their respective countries, nominating the best windows for the global competition.
Four gia Expert Jurors — Denise Foley, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Wolfgang Gruschwitz — evaluated home and housewares windows from around the world based on:
- Originality and Creativity (theme, concept, special effects)
- Merchandise Presentation
- Professionalism: Execution and Technical Aspects (lighting, attention to detail, signage, copy)
The gia program was created by IHA and The Inspired Home Show to foster innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing worldwide. Since gia launched in 2000, more than 600 gia retail award winners from 60 countries across six continents have been recognized.
For more information about the IHA gia program, the co-sponsors or participating in 2027-2028, contact Piritta Törrö at [email protected]. Additional information on the gia program is also available online at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Awards/gia-Retailing.
The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s global home + housewares marketplace, will be held Tuesday through Thursday, March 9-11, at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex for one final time before moving to its next chapter in Atlanta in 2028. For more information about the 2027 Show and to register for a free Show entrance badge, please visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com.
