13 – 14 MAY 2026 AT JIO WORLD CONVENTION CENTRE, MUMBAI
13-14 May 2026, jio world convention centre, mumbai
IMAGES RETAIL AWARDS 2026
(Assessment Period 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2026)
Entries Close on 10th April, 2026
NOMINEES TO PERSONALLY PRESENT TO THE JURY ON 13-14 May 2026 @ Phygital Retail Convention at Jio Convention Centre Mumbai.
Nominations will be accepted only subject to confirmation of senior representative for presentation to the jury and presence at the Images Retail Awards on 14 May evening signed by Sanctioning Authority.
All categories will be presentation-based.
Finalists/ Nominees with valid entries will be required to present a 5 minute video or PPT, highlighting their unique concept/idea/initiative/strategy, innovation in execution, and measurable impact/ results.
The presentation will be followed by JURY interaction with the presenter.
(The 5 minutes AV/ video to be in 16:9 ratio to be played in VLC player during grand jury presentation.)
IMAGES Retail Awards are judged on the basis of performance in retail operations in India. Presence in offline retail is a prerequisite for nomination in all categories (with at least one physical store in operation in FY2025–2026 for all categories, barring for Launch of the Year), irrespective of presence in online/ omnichannel retail.
WHO CAN FILE NOMINATIONS
A retailer or a brand with own Physical/ Web stores – operating in India as per category requirement (with at least one physical store)
Retailing any one or more of the following categories: Fashion & Lifestyle / Fashion Accessories / Luggage / Footwear / Sports goods & Fitness Equipment / Jewellery / Eyewear / Timewear / Leisure (books, music, gifts/ toys etc.) / Consumer Electronics / Pharmacy & Wellness products / Beauty Products / Salons, Spas & Fitness Services / Mobile & Telecom / Home & Office Improvement / Food-service / Food & Grocery (Supermarkets) / Cinema / Multiplexes / gaming and fun zones, play areas and recreational concepts.
IRA 2026 – CATEGORIES
For the below categories Retailers with atleast one operation physical outlet can nominate
Marketing & Promotions
Nomination should be for one specific campaign. Campaign categories are:
- Celebrity Endorsement
- Festival Sales
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Promotions
- In-store
- Multi Media
- Digital / Social Media
Unique Initiatives
Nominations can be filed with a brief note on the unique idea, strategy or innovation Include details of execution and results in terms of creating differentiation, customer or multi stakeholder engagement, increased satisfaction with positive feedback/ coverage/ and recognition.
- CRM / Loyalty Programme
- ESG Initiatives
- Employee Practices
Launch
Nominations can be filed for a retail outlet launch between April 2025 & March 2026, which drew significant consumer, media and industry attention in the following categories:
- Brand Debut
- Concept Store
- New Store
- Pop-Up or Limited-Time Store Concepts
Retail Experience
Nominations can be submitted by a retail store that demonstrates an enhanced retail experience resulting in recognition and measurable business outcomes.
- Store Design
- Visual Merchandising
- Retail Concept
Market Expansion
Nominations can be filed by a retailer or a brand with own stores with details on following quantitative parameters:
- 360° Expansion
- New Market Penetration
- Store Count Augmentation
- Trading Area Growth
- Offline Expansion by Digital-First Brands
Retail Sales Growth
Nominations can be submitted by retailers demonstrating significant sales growth through consistent same store sales or overall expansion, driven by effective strategies, operational efficiency, and customer-focused approaches.
- Same Store Sales Growth
- Total Retail Sales Growth
Retail Re-Imagined
Nominations can be submitted by retailers who have successfully re-imagined their retail approach in any area below but not limited to:
- Repositioning of Retail Brand
- Re-Branding & Visual Identity Overhaul
- Re-Creating Retail Experience
- Customer Loyalty Program Overhaul
- Re-Strategizing In-Store Merchandising
- Or any other retail concept success story
Tech Implementation
..................................................................
- Digital Transformation
- Omnichannel Strategy
- Store Technology Integration
- Use of Data and Personalization
Retail Re-Imagined
in any area below but not limited to:
- Repositioning of Retail Brand
- Re-Branding & Visual Identity Overhaul
- Re-Creating Retail Experience
- Customer Loyalty Program Overhaul
- Re-Strategizing In-Store Merchandising
- Or any other retail concept success story
Categories for Retail Support/ Solution Services
For the below categories non- Retailers can nominate
Retail Architecture & Design Company
This award recognises a design company that has redefined retail spaces through innovation, functionality, and aesthetic excellence — creating environments that elevate brand experience and commercial success.
Customer Experience & Engagement Technology
Recognising organisations that have successfully implemented Customer Experience & Engagement technology initiatives, across areas including, but not limited to:
CRM & Customer Data Platform
Marketing Automation & MarTech Excellence
CPaaS / Communication Platform innovation
Customer Journey & Personalization technologies
Commerce, Retail, In-Store & Experiential Technology
Recognising organisations that have successfully implemented Commerce, In-Store & Experiential Technology initiatives, across areas including, but not limited to:
Omnichannel Commerce Platforms & Unified Retail Solutions
In-Store & Phygital Technology Innovation (POS, RFID, Smart Store)
E-commerce Platforms, Marketplaces & Digital Commerce Enablement
AR/VR, IoT & Immersive Retail Experience Technologies
Supply Chain, Logistics & Fulfilment Technology
Recognising organisations that have successfully implemented Supply Chain, Logistics & Fulfilment technology initiatives, across areas including, but not limited to:
Supply Chain Planning & Logistics Technology Solutions
Last-Mile Delivery & Fulfilment Innovation
Warehouse, Inventory & Order Management Systems
Cross-Border Commerce & Fulfilment Technology Excellence
Enterprise, Cloud & Business Enablement Solutions
Recognising organisations that have successfully deployed Enterprise, Cloud & Business Enablement initiatives, across areas including, but not limited to:
Best SaaS Platforms for Business Operations
Cloud Infrastructure & Platform Services
ERP & Integrated Business Management Solutions
Digital Transformation, System Integration & Enterprise Modernisation Services
Data, AI & Analytics Solutions
AI & Data-Driven Retail Transformation across areas including, but not limited to:
AI-Driven Business Intelligence & Analytics
Predictive Analytics / Recommendation Engines
Data Management & Customer Insights Platforms
Payments, FinTech & Security Technology
FinTech & Security Technology initiatives across areas including, but not limited to:
Digital Payments & Checkout Innovation
Fraud Prevention & Cybersecurity Solutions
FinTech Enablement & Embedded Finance Platform
WHAT’S REQUIRED FOR ONLINE SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
A brief note on the unique idea, strategy or innovation – unveiled in FY2025–2026 with details on its execution and results in terms of creating differentiation, customer or multi stakeholder engagement, increased satisfaction with positive feedback/ coverage/ recognition/ and Most Importantly Sales.
Above needs to be incorporated in the AV presentation to the jury with visuals, graphics with facts and figures.
Nominations can be submitted in one or more of the mentioned categories.
Each nomination needs to be submitted separately.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
Jurors have the right to decide on special recognitions for extraordinary performances or achievements by smaller, regional, local or independent retailers in any area within the scope of IRA.
PROCESSING FEE PER ENTRY
No fee for the 1st entry form. For additional entries: Rs. 5,000 + GST per entry for PRC Privilege Club members only. Invitations to the grand IRA Gala will be extended according to the membership package. Rs. 10,000 + GST per entry for non-members. This includes one delegate pass for the presenter, along with access to the Awards Gala on May 14th, which features cocktails, dinner, awards, and live entertainment.For any assistance please get in touch with: Priti Gupta | M: +91- 8826415472 | E: [email protected]
