The Onboard Awards 2027 are now open for entries, launching the biggest change to the programme in its 13-year history.
This marks the first entry window since the Onboard Hospitality Awards rebranded as the Onboard Awards, a shift that formalises the programme’s role as an independently judged, industry-endorsed seal of quality – one increasingly recognised by passengers as well as peers.
Last year’s awards drew over 300 entries from around the world, the biggest year in the programme’s history. This year, many elements have been refined to enable the Onboard Awards to offer the best value and support to the industry. Read on to learn more.
As always, winners will be revealed at WTCE and AIX Hamburg next April. Make sure you stand out from the crowd. Enter before December 1 2026.
Five major changes
This year sees the biggest change in the Onboard Awards since their launch 13 years ago. Aside from a refreshed name and brand identity, changes include:
- Onboard Experience of the Year: The Onboard Awards’ most prestigious accolade, previously known as Cabin Concept of the Year, has been renamed Onboard Experience of the Year for 2027, reflecting a broader focus on the complete passenger journey. Read more about this change.
- Mark of Excellence: We’ve introduced a new distinction that widens the spotlight beyond the category winners, giving standout entries a way to earn formal recognition even if they don’t take the top prize. Learn more.
- More categories: Awards for Sleep Experience, Social Impact, Local Collaborations, Digital Experiences and more have joined the category line-up for 2027. See the full list below.
- Streamlined judging and Readership Award: Our transparent and rigorous judging process has been further refined. Our readership vote will now inform a special Reader’s Choice Award for one stand-out entry. Discover how it works.
- New entry forms: The entry forms have been simplified to make it easier than ever to enter the awards. Entrants can supply all the information needed in one go, and will then be sent an invoice to pay for entries. No more juggling multiple platforms – complete one form, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Categories
There are now 40 awards up for grabs across six key themes: Comfort & Wellbeing, Food & Beverage, Technology & Entertainment, Serviceware & Cabin Products, Inclusive & Responsible Travel and Innovation. See the full list below.
First Class Amenities
Amenity kits and contents for First Class cabins.
Business Class Amenities
Amenity kits and contents for Business Class cabins.
Premium Economy Amenities
Amenity kits and contents for Premium Economy cabins.
Economy & Low-Cost Amenities
Amenity kits and contents for Economy and Low-Cost cabins.
Young Traveller Amenities
Amenities and products for children and young passengers.
Passenger Textiles
Blankets, pillows, duvets, linens and comfort textiles for onboard use.
Wearable Comfort
Pyjamas, socks, eye masks, uniforms and wearable comfort products for passengers and crew.
Passenger Wellbeing
Products and services supporting rest, relaxation, health and comfort onboard.
Sleep Experience (NEW for 2027)
End-to-end sleep solutions and innovations improving onboard rest and recovery.
Economy Meal Service – Lunch & Dinner
Full-service meals in Economy Class.
Business Class Meal Service – Lunch & Dinner
Premium meal services in Business Class.
First Class Meal Service – Lunch & Dinner
Fine dining experiences in First Class cabins.
Breakfast Service
Onboard breakfast offerings across all cabins.
Buy-on-Board Programme
Retail food and beverage offerings across onboard services.
Young Traveller Food & Beverage
Meal boxes, snacks and drinks designed for younger travellers.
Beer & Ciders
Beer and cider served onboard.
Spirits & cocktails
Spirits and cocktails served onboard.
Wine & Champagne
Still, sparkling and Champagne offerings onboard.
Non-Alcoholic Beverage
Soft drinks, juices, water and functional beverages.
Hot Beverage
Coffee, tea and hot beverage services onboard.
Premium Cabin Snacks
Snack offerings in First, Business and Premium Economy cabins.
Economy Snacks
Snack offerings in Economy and Low-Cost cabins.
Special Dietary Product
Meals or products designed for specific dietary or cultural requirements.
Chef Collaboration
Chef-led menus, partnerships and culinary concepts.
Entertainment Content
Film, Entertainment Content
Film, television, music and destination content.
Connectivity Systems
Wi-Fi, satellite and onboard connectivity infrastructure.
Passenger Hardware
Headphones, screens, charging systems and onboard devices.
Onboard Applications
Passenger-facing digital applications and service platforms.
Digital Experience (NEW for 2027)
AI, personalisation and end-to-end digital passenger journeys.
Passenger Serviceware
Tableware, trays, cutlery, crockery and service items.
Crew Service Equipment
Operational equipment supporting crew performance and service delivery.
Packaging Design (NEW for 2027)
Packaging innovation balancing sustainability, functionality and presentation.
Accessibility
Products and services improving accessibility and inclusion onboard.
Sustainable Product
Products reducing environmental impact across design and lifecycle.
Sustainability Programme
Initiatives delivering measurable environmental or operational impact.
Social Impact (NEW for 2027)
Initiatives delivering positive social outcomes through travel-related activity.
Local Collaboration (NEW for 2027)
Partnerships with regional chefs, producers, artisans and brands bringing a sense of place onboard.
Ones to Watch – Food & Beverage
Pre-launch food and beverage innovations not yet in onboard service.
Ones to Watch – Non-Food & Beverage
Pre-launch non-food innovations not yet in onboard service.
Breakthrough Innovation (NEW for 2027)
Most transformative innovation with potential to redefine the onboard experience. All entries in the Ones to Watch categories will be considered for this award.
Enter now
Entries close December 1 2026. Learn more and enter at onboardawards.com
One entry cost £480, with discounts available for multiple entries.
Any questions? Contact craig.mcquinn@onboardhospitality.com or sue.williams@onboardhospitality.com
