The countdown is officially on. The GIMA Awards are returning on Thursday 12th November, bringing the garden retail industry together once again to recognise the ideas, innovation and people shaping the sector right now.

Taking place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales, the event remains one of the most anticipated dates in the industry calendar, providing a chance to step back from the day-to-day, celebrate success, and benchmark against the very best.

The GIMA Awards continue to champion the businesses pushing boundaries across product development, marketing and retail support.  Spanning a comprehensive range of categories – from garden care and outdoor living through to POS, marketing campaigns and supplier excellence – the awards reflect the full breadth of innovation happening across the sector today.

Open to entries from June 2025 through to May 2026, this is an opportunity for brands of all sizes to showcase the ideas, products and initiatives that are driving real impact in garden retail.

And for those considering entering, perhaps this is the year your business joins the roll of honour alongside last year’s winners, which included names such as GARDENA UK, Elho, Woodlodge, Meadow View Stone and Smart Garden Products.

Helping you put your best entry forward

For those looking to put their best foot forward, GIMA is introducing additional support for entrants this year.  A dedicated GIMA Awards online workshop on 6th May will give businesses practical insight into what makes a winning entry. From understanding judging criteria to structuring submissions effectively, the session is designed to remove guesswork and help entrants present their work with confidence.

Judging will then take place at Warwick Racecourse across 30th June and 1st July, where industry experts will assess entries in person.

Entry details

Entry fees remain accessible, with GIMA members able to enter for £70 + VAT per submission, and non-members at £140 + VAT.

Tickets for the awards evening are priced at £379 + VAT per person for members (£3,579 + VAT for a table of 10), and £449 + VAT per person for non-members (£4,299 + VAT for a table of 10), with dinner and accommodation included.

Book early and save

Those planning ahead can take advantage of the Early Bird offer, with a 5% discount available on Gala Dinner bookings made and paid for by 29th May.

Further details, including full entry criteria, submission information and to book your ticket, can be found at www.gima.org.uk/gima-awards-2026/