The PLASA Awards for Innovation are back for 2025, and entries are officially open.
Celebrating the most forward-thinking technology across lighting, audio, AV, staging, rigging and beyond, the awards recognise products that bring something genuinely new to the table, whether it’s a technical step forward, a sustainability breakthrough, or a clever commercial edge.
Run in partnership with LSi, the awards are independently judged by a panel of experts who know what real innovation looks like. All shortlisted entries will be showcased in the Innovation Gallery at PLASA Show 2025, which returns to Olympia London from 7–9 September.
The products will also appear online in the show’s Virtual Innovation Gallery and benefit from exposure across email and social media campaigns, reaching a wide audience of engaged professionals.
The Awards for Innovation are open to everyone, whether you’re exhibiting at PLASA Show, a PLASA member, or simply have something worth shouting about.
Plus, if you get your entry in by Friday 1 August, you’ll save 20% with the early bird rate and be included in LSi’s editorial coverage in the lead-up to the show. The final deadline for entries is Friday 22nd August. Winning products will be revealed during an intimate industry gathering on the evening of Monday 8 September, during the PLASA Show.
James Eade, chair of the judging panel, says: “These awards are all about substance over spin. If your product genuinely makes life better for the people using it, the judges will notice. Being recognised can really make a difference.”
Up to eight products will be selected for a coveted Award for Innovation, and one standout could be honoured with the coveted Gold Award. There’s also a dedicated Sustainability Award available for products that demonstrate meaningful environmental impact.
Last year’s winners included some of the most inventive names in the business. Glensound took home Gold for its GTM Mobile interface, the first of its kind for eSports mobile audio.
Other winners included HIVE for its compact media players, Ampetronic & Listen Technologies for its Auracast listening system, Fourier Audio for its powerful plug-in server, and Astera, Karno, and Robe for standout lighting and audio innovations.
Vari-Lite claimed the Sustainability Award for a retrofit engine that gives existing fixtures a new lease of life. Several other products were also commended for their creative approaches to production challenges.
To find out more and submit your entry, head to: www.plasashow.com/awards
To see what impressed the judges last year, visit the 2024 Innovation Gallery.
