Robotics & Automation Magazine has confirmed a major refresh of its annual awards programme.
From 2026, the Robotics & Automation Awards will run live on Day One of Robotics & Automation Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham on 18 March 2026.
Eligibility will be limited to companies exhibiting at any of the co-located shows: Robotics & Automation, IntraLogisteX, Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition and Fulfilment & Last Mile Expo.
Winners will be announced on stage in the Robotics & Automation Conference Theatre.
“The move puts recognition at the centre of the UK’s largest annual gathering for logistics, warehousing and automation,” said John Thornton, editor-in-chief of Robotics & Automation Magazine.
“We’re aligning the awards with where the industry is creating value. Exhibitor-only entry ensures finalists are the suppliers investing in the ecosystem and proving outcomes with customers.”
Categories feature updated criteria focused on real deployments and measurable benefits (see below).
Themes expected to shape the 2026 shortlist include delivering ROI under inflationary pressure, peak-period resilience, talent and skills, carbon and compliance, scaling from pilot to production, AI-driven scheduling and control, and the role of robotics in reshoring and local production.
“End users are asking tougher questions about payback, reliability and integration,” added Thornton. “The evolved format rewards technologies and partnerships that stand up to those questions on the show floor and in live operations.”
Further information on entry timelines and full category definitions will be released ahead of the 2026 co-located events at the NEC Birmingham on 18–19 March.
2026 categories – at a glance
Cross-show (open to all exhibitors)
Automation Product of the Year – Hardware: step-change performance from robots, cobots, AMRs/AGVs, tooling or sensing in live use
Automation Product of the Year – Software & AI: WMS/WES, orchestration, vision AI, digital twin or predictive tools delivering measurable gains
Best Turnkey System: fully commissioned, integrated automation proving throughput, quality and uptime
Best ROI in Robotics & Automation: fast payback or major KPI shifts (OEE, safety, errors, energy, CO₂e) evidenced by customers
Sustainability in Automation: material reductions in energy, waste or emissions attributable to automation
Service & Support Excellence: lifecycle services, safety compliance and SLAs that maximise uptime
Robotics & Automation (core robotics)
Best Industrial Robot/Cobot Application
Mobile Robotics Solution of the Year (AMR/AGV)
Machine Vision & Sensing Innovation
Functional Safety & Compliance in Automation
IntraLogisteX (warehouse/DC)
AS/RS of the Year
Automated Picking & Order Fulfilment Innovation
AMR-Orchestrated Intralogistics
Automation-Led Warehouse Safety & Ergonomics
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition (ESG outcomes)
Low-Carbon Automation in Operations
Automation for Circular & Returns Flows
Sustainable Packaging Automation
Fulfilment & Last Mile Expo (post-warehouse)
Autonomous Delivery & Service Robotics
Automated Out-of-Home & Micro-hub Infrastructure
AI-Driven Last-Mile Orchestration
Who can enter?
Exhibitors confirmed for any of the four co-located 2026 shows.
When do entries open?
January 2026
Where are winners announced?
Live on stage, 18 March 2026, in the Robotics & Automation Conference Theatre.
To be notified when submissions open, ensure your company is confirmed as an exhibitor for Robotics & Automation Exhibition, IntraLogisteX, Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition or Fulfilment & Last Mile Expo 2026. For more information, please email reuben.henry-fellows@akabomedia.co.uk
