WithIt’s WOW Awards Set for Las Vegas Market

The Age of Aquarium-themed 2026 WOW Awards gala will take place on Sunday, January 25

The 29^th edition of the WOW Awards – sponsored by WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry – will be held during the Las Vegas Market, on Sunday, January 25 at Worldview on the 16^th floor of the World Market Center’s Building B.

The event  will begin with networking and cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by a gala dinner at 7 p.m. prior to the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Individual tickets and 10-person sponsor tables can be purchased here  withit.org.

“There is so much anticipation and energy heading into a new year, and for us deciding to hold the 2026 WOW Awards Gala at the Las Vegas Market with an Age of Aquarius theme is part of that wow factor. Adding to our excitement for our 2026 awards, we received more  WOW  nominations than ever before! With almost 65 nominations filled with incredibly talented and bright individuals – and with many companies who have never participated in our awards and nominations process before – is in itself a huge honor,” commented Cathy Valent, WithIt’s 2025 president and vp/sales for Springs Digital.

Leading the branding and décor for the 2026 Wow Awards Gala, is the WOW Squad committee, consisting of volunteers throughout the home and furnishings community and through a creative partnership with global trend forecasting agency Future Snoops.

Sponsors for the 2026 WOW Awards include Andmore, Tempur Sealy, Jola Interactive, Elite Comfort Solutions – A Leggett & Platt Company, J.B. Hunt Final Mile, Serta Simmons Bedding and American First Finance.

“We are incredibly honored to be part of bringing the ‘The Age of Aquarius – WOW Awards’ theme to life. On behalf of our entire WOW Squad, we can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable celestial experience that reflects the passion and innovation of the WOW Awards gala and want to thank the generosity of our sponsors,” said WithIt’s co-chair and vp/events Serena Martin and Tarah Jakubiak. “The idea for this theme came from looking into the key elements around The Age of Aquarius, which embraces teamwork, collaboration, optimism and yearning for interconnectedness. Like WithIt, this age embodies a balance between freedom, intellectualism, individualism and positive development. And it is also deeply rooted in and encourages people to find their unique paths while also working together to foster a deep connection to their community — all things that WithIt nurtures in its members and throughout our industry.”

The WOW Awards’ mission is to spotlight women and men in the home and furnishings industry and to honor and celebrate their outstanding work throughout their careers.  One of the 2025 WOW Award recipients, Jaye Anna Mize, vp/advisory and partnerships for Future Snoops noted,  “WithIt’s WOW Awards are incredibly impactful, and being a nominee has been a huge honor. The feeling of being recognized alongside so many other exceptional individuals is truly special. I also love how WithIt’s membership consists of a community of powerful women throughout the home furnishings industry who support one another through good times and bad times. Its members motivate each other to reach for bigger and brighter goals, and to lean on one another especially when times are hard. Having an entire community of women who motivate you to strive for more, to not give up and to not let yourself be overwhelmed by the minutiae of work – family – life, is a blessing.”

The WOW Awards nominees are exemplary stewards that shepherd their companies, help them grow their businesses and support the design, retail and trade industries. Each year WithIt’s annual WOW Awards honors both women and men in the home furnishings industry in six categories: Visionary, Leadership, Mentoring, Education, Future Leader, and Sales Excellence.

The Visionary Award celebrates the contributions of an accomplished  woman to WithIt and the home furnishings industry.  The Leadership Award recognizes the contributions of a woman who has demonstrated successful leadership in her company, WithIt and the home furnishings industry. The Mentoring Award honors a company or individual for their efforts to foster advocacy, development and promotion of women in their company and the industry. The Education Award recognizes an individual who has put forth significant effort to educate associates, retailers and consumers about home and furnishings. The Future Leader Award honors a young woman in the industry who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader. The Sales Excellence Award recognizes a woman who is extraordinary in sales, demonstrates excellence in education and relationships with her customers and has exceptional commitment to the company she represents.

The WOW Awards recipients are nominated by their peers and by organizations. The honor recognizes business leaders and emerging professionals who have demonstrated significant impact through their work, their experience and their contributions to the industry. Nominees and recipients of the annual WOW Awards are exceptional examples of powerful, smart and courageous individuals who uplift others during uncertain and challenging times. During the WOW Awards judging process, 3 nominee finalists from each award category submit packages of supporting documentation which are judged by a panel of 5 industry leaders and are scored accordingly before a final recipient is selected. Each WOW Awards gala honors nominees and finalists in each category. 

For more information and to purchase your tickets to the 2026 WOW Awards, click here. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, email Cathy Smith, WithIt’s development director.