This year’s competition offers 17 categories for individuals and businesses across the functional food and supplements industry to enter.
New for 2026, recognizing the huge growth of innovation in this space, we are inviting applications for healthspan focused ingredients and products.
The new healthspan product and ingredient awards will celebrate the most innovative ingredients designed to support healthy aging.
From cutting-edge ingredients that support cellular health, including mitochondrial function, senescence and oxidative stress, to those targeting inflammaging, metabolic resilience, muscle preservation, cognitive function and gut microbiome balance, this category recognizes science-backed solutions that help maintain physical and mental vitality.
We have also made The Start-Up Award FREE to enter for 2026 in order to allow the industry’s best entrepreneurs to join the competition, whether they are several years in and disrupting the market or just getting started.
The category is open to companies founded within the past 10 years that are driving innovation, disrupting the status quo and delivering measurable impact.
The full list of categories available to enter are:
- Ingredient of the Year: Healthspan (NEW for 2026!)
- Ingredient of the Year: Botanical
- Ingredient of the Year: Beauty-from-within
- Ingredient of the Year: Mind and Mood
- Ingredient of the Year: Sports Nutrition
- Ingredient of the Year: Microbiome Modulation
- Product of the Year: Healthspan (NEW for 2026!)
- Product of the Year: Immune Support
- Product of the Year: Sports Nutrition
- Product of the Year: Microbiome Modulation
- Product of the Year: Beauty-from-within
- Innovation in Women’s Health Award
- Nutrition Research Project
- Marketing Initiative of the Year
- Editors’ Award Sustainability Initiative of the Year
- NutraChampion
- Start-up Award (FREE to enter!)
Tips for a winning application
For ingredient and finished product award applications, our judges will look at how the solution meets specific needs and will base their scores on evidence provided to demonstrate: consumer demand, scientific backing, commercial success and an ‘X factor’.
Solid scientific evidence is a non-negotiable in these awards. Applicants must show that their solution is supported by peer-reviewed data to substantiate any performance or health claims made.
It is important to demonstrate the commercial success and engagement from the core target market, ideally including numbers and examples of sales where possible.
For product applications, judges will consider packaging as well, considering ease of use, appeal and novelty.
To show judges what gives their solution the ‘X factor’, applicants should highlight what makes it stand out from the crowd and what gives it an edge on the competition. Evidence and numbers to back any claims here will be helpful.
The closing date for entries is Jan. 26, with finalists to be announced on Mar.25, and winners announced at an awards evening in Barcelona on May.6.
To learn more, or to apply, visit the NutraIngredients Awards website here.
