The Crystal Cabin Award has opened submissions for its 2027 competition, marking the 20th anniversary of the aircraft interiors accolade, organisers announced on 10 September 2026.
Entries are open until 21 November 2026, with winners to be announced in Hamburg, Germany, on 6 April 2027 during Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX).
The 2027 competition retains the eight categories used in 2026: Accessibility; Breakthrough Start-Ups; Cabin Concepts; Cabin Technologies; in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) & Digital Services; Passenger Comfort; Sustainable Cabin; and University. The categories cover innovation ranging from individual cabin components to complete interiors, and are open to companies, designers, researchers and students.
A jury of 27 industry experts will assess entries through a multi-stage selection process. A shortlist is due in mid-December 2026, with finalists announced in February 2027. Final presentations to the jury will take place in Hamburg on 5 April 2027, the day before the anniversary ceremony.
According to Angela Wockert, project manager at the Crystal Cabin Award, the award’s history shows that cabin innovation extends beyond aesthetics. “It is also about the barriers removed, the resources saved and the problems solved, all in the service of the best passenger experience,” she says.
“Over the last 20 years, the award has gone from strength to strength because it has unerringly identified trends, honored creative solutions and shone a spotlight on excellence passengers might not even see or experience directly,” she adds. “We aim to carry on this tradition while working together with our partners and sponsors to lift the award to new heights looking forward.”
Separately, the Seamless Journey Award, developed with the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), will be presented in Singapore on 19 November 2026 during APEX FTE EXPO. The award recognises innovations linking the aircraft cabin with the wider passenger journey and runs its own, separate application and selection process from the Hamburg ceremony.
Category criteria and application materials for the Crystal Cabin Award 2027 are available on the organisation’s website here.
