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2026 Showroom of the Year Finalists Announced
Dallas Market Center has released the names of the finalists in the popular lighting showroom competition. Winners will be announced live during Lightovation.
Dallas Market Center (DMC) has announced the finalists of the 2026 Showroom of the Year Awards (SOTY). The annual awards program honors top retailers and is presented in partnership with Lighting News Now Editor-in-Chief Linda Longo.
Retailers are evaluated on a range of criteria including merchandising display, marketing and advertising, customer service and engagement, employee education, and community involvement.
Finalists are recognized across three revenue categories and will be evaluated by a panel of judges, with one SOTY winner selected in each category. All finalists are also eligible for specialty honors, including Outstanding Merchandising Display, Exceptional Community Involvement, and Showroom of the Future.
Winners will be announced during a special Showroom of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m. at the Trade Mart 3 Loft Main Stage during the June 24–27 Lightovation show at Dallas Market Center. The event is open to all Lightovation attendees, exhibitors, and sales representatives, with no tickets or pre-registration required.
“We’re proud to recognize lighting retailers who continue to set the standard for innovation, creativity, and customer experience,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center.
Finalists in the Revenue Under $2 Million category are:
• Construction Resources, Atlanta, GA
• KIE Supply, Kennewick, WA
• One Source Lighting, Billings, MT
• Pioneer Lighting, Winder, GA
• Western Montana Lighting, Missoula, MT
Finalists in the Revenue $2 Million to $5 Million category are:
• Bright Ideas Inc., Albuquerque, NM
• EL Design, Elk Grove Village, IL
• Georgia Lighting, Sugar Hill, GA
• Kilohana Lighting, Lihue, HI
• LED Distribution Corp., Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
Finalists in the Revenue $5 Million and Over category are:
• Accent Lighting, Wichita, KS
• Hermitage Design, Nashville, TN
• Lighting Design, Draper, UT
• Lightology, Chicago, IL
• Nova Lighting, Orem, UT
“I am thrilled to see such a high caliber of lighting showroom submissions this year,” Longo said. “The amount of creativity, visual merchandising, promotional marketing, and community involvement that lighting showrooms are offering is both inspirational and impressive.”
Longo also helped with the judging process, which included an esteemed group of experts:
• Kelly Inglis, lighting consultant & educator
• Kenneth Ludwig, founder, Kenneth Ludwig Chicago
• John Mark Sharpe, owner, John Mark Enterprises
It’s Not Too Late to Book Your Lightovation Hotel Rooms
All Lightovation attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to book their hotel rooms for the June edition of Lightovation as soon as possible to secure availability and preferred rates within Dallas Market Center’s official hotel blocks.
Hotel rooms for June can be explored and reserved here.
Lightovation runs concurrently with the June 24-30 Total Home & Gift Market at Dallas Market Center for convenient crossover buying of non-lighting categories. Register for Lightovation here.
Keep watching the Lightovation Facebook page and the Lightovation-Lighting Industry Discussion Group on Facebook for additional details about the June awards presentation. Follow the #SOTYAwards hashtag for all the latest news regarding the Showroom of the Year Awards.
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