Entries for the Onboard Hospitality Awards 2026 must be submitted today, Monday December 8 2025.
Based on the number of entries so far, the awards are already set for a record year.
The awards celebrate the best onboard F&B, amenity kits, tableware, bedding, sleepwear, serviceware, inflight entertainment, apps and more.
Now in their 12th year, the Onboard Hospitality Awards are regarded the most prestigious and reputable awards in the onboard hospitality sector.
Entries can come from airlines, rail, cruise and ferry operators, caterers, suppliers, designers and anyone else associated with the onboard hospitality sector.
Entering the Onboard Hospitality Awards brings global exposure and opens doors to new global business opportunities and partnerships.
See our guide to how to enter the awards
Entries close December 8 2025.
New for 2026
Additional F&B awards have been added for 2026 due to the high number and quality of entries in this sector in recent years.
The F&B categories now include an award for the Best Chef Collaboration/Catering Concept, plus awards for Best Onboard Breakfast Food Service (all classes) and Best Low-Cost F&B Buy-on-board Menu.
A category for Best for Full-Service Food Service – Lunch & Dinner has been split into three categories for Economy, Business class and First class. Entries for these categories can either be a full tray (from an airline) or individual dishes.
There are now four beverage categories: Best Onboard Beverage – Alcoholic (beers, cocktails, spirits), Best Onboard Wine/Champagne (red, white, rose, sparkling, Champagne), Best Onboard Beverage – Non Alcoholic and Best Onboard Beverage – Hot Drinks.
The popular Ones to Watch category has been separated into two awards – F&B and non-F&B.
Independent judging
Once the entry deadline closes on December 8, all entries are listed on our global website – onboardhospitality.com – and are voted on by our international readership of 25,000.
This initial vote opens on January 1 2026 and is used to select the finalists.
Finalists are then invited to send in samples of their products to be judged by a panel of 24 esteemed industry experts, selected because of their knowledge and good standing within the industry.
This takes place in the United Kingdom on February 26 2026.
“Our commitment to excellence extends not only to the awards themselves but also to the meticulous judging process, which ensures the highest level of integrity and fairness,” says Publisher Sue Williams.
The winners will be revealed in a presentation ceremony on April 14 2026 during the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg.
The 2026 categories are:
Comfort
Amenities – First
Amenities – Business
Amenities – Premium Economy
Amenities – Economy/LCC
Wellbeing
Textiles – Wearable
Textiles – Onboard
Food and Beverage
Full-Service Economy Food Service – Lunch & Dinner
Business Class Food Service – Lunch & Dinner
First Class Food Service – Lunch & Dinner
Onboard Breakfast Food Service
Low-Cost F&B Buy-onboard Menu
Onboard Beverage – Alcoholic
Onboard Wine/Champagne
Onboard Beverage – Non Alcoholic
Onboard Beverage – Hot Drinks
Onboard Snacks – First/Business
Onboard Snacks – Full-service Economy
Special Dietary Meal or Product
Best Chef Collaboration/Catering Concept
New to industry
Ones to Watch F&B
Ones to Watch non-F&B
Multiple touchpoints
Accessibility
Sustainability – Product
Sustainability – Programme
Young Travellers – Amenities
Young Travellers – Other
Technology
Entertainment
Connectivity
Hardware
Apps
Serviceware
Service equipment – Passengers
Service equipment – Crew
Not sure which category to enter? Contact Sue Williams sue.williams@onboardhospitality.com. For F&B categories, please contact Craig McQuinn craig.mcquinn@onboardhospitality.com.
