TIME Best Inventions is TIME’s annual list of the year’s most exceptional products, services, and breakthroughs reshaping industries and improving lives.

The list honors three hundred (300) innovations across industries and invention features, reflecting key global innovation trends. An additional one hundred (100) innovations are named as Special Mentions.

The list is not ranked. All 300 innovations are considered TIME’s Best Inventions of the year and are presented by their industry or invention feature category.

Yes, the entry fee is based on submission timing and is applied to each category entered: early deadline is $575, standard deadline is $800, and final deadline is $925.

There are three entry deadlines: early deadline on March 6, 2026; standard deadline on April 10, 2026; and final deadline on May 15, 2026. All deadlines close at 11:59:59PM Pacific Time Zone.

The list will be published in October 2026. The exact timing will be announced at a later date.

The list will appear and be promoted across TIME’s print magazine, website, and social media channels including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Any product, software, or service that has hit a major milestone between October 2025–October 2026 is eligible to enter.

Any company, organization, agency, or individual involved in the creation or marketing of an innovation that has, or will, hit a major milestone within the eligibility period is able to submit an entry.

Major milestones include but are not limited to: releasing a new product, surpassing a sales goal, acquiring a major regulatory approval, securing an important partnership, unveiling a working prototype, or announcing an expansion.

Yes, you are eligible to enter again even if you have been featured on the list previously. You can submit a new innovation or the same one if it has, or will, hit a major new milestone within the eligibility period.

Yes, your innovation is eligible regardless of when it debuted, as long as it has, or will, hit a major milestone within the eligibility period.

Yes, if your innovation will remain in the prototype or conceptual phase during the eligibility period but still shows significant originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact, you can submit it to the Experimental Invention Feature category.

Yes, you can submit your innovation provided it will be publicly announced by October 2026. If you are submitting embargoed or confidential information, please note that in your entry form.

TIME Best Inventions has restructured its Industry & Sector categories to better reflect today’s innovation landscape. Categories are now organized under their corresponding sectors, allowing clearer navigation when applying and more precise peer comparison during judging.

The categories are divided into sections: Invention Features—innovations with standout qualities—and Industry & Sector—advancements that shape their fields. Selecting the most suitable categories ensure you are evaluated among your true peers, and all categories are given equal attention by TIME editors.

Choose the Industry & Sector categories that best represent the field your innovation is impacting and/or any relevant Invention Features categories that highlight your innovation’s specific qualities.

The ‘Other’ Industry & Sector categories are for innovations that don't fit clearly into the categories listed but still belong within that main sector.

Yes, you can submit in more than one category with a separate fee applied to each category entered. While you can only be recognized once, entering across categories ensures your innovation is evaluated from various perspectives.

Yes, multiple inventions can be submitted by the same company, organization, agency or individual, but each invention requires its own application.

While we cannot provide a complete preview of the entry form, you can start the entry process, review all the questions and save your progress without submitting or paying. Payment is only required when you’re ready to submit your completed entry.

Yes, you can save your entry as a draft, but you will need to create an account to save your progress.

To secure a specific pricing tier, your entry must be completed and submitted by that deadline at 11:59PM PT. You can continue editing until the deadline, but once it passes, your entry is considered final and ready for review. This ensures all entries are evaluated fairly and consistently.

At this time, we do not offer discounted rates for TIME Best Inventions. The entry fees are the same for all applicants regardless of company size or organization type.

Once your entry is submitted and the deadline has passed, the entry form cannot be edited.

Yes, if you are submitting confidential or embargoed information, please note that in the entry form and it will be honored.

Your entry materials are reviewed only by TIME’s editorial team and trusted expert contributors. Access is limited to this select group of judges to protect the confidentiality of all entries.

TIME solicits nominations through an online entry process and conducts research via their global network of expert contributors and editors. The TIME editorial team then evaluates each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

There is no set number of innovations per category. The competitive landscape varies each year based on the quality and quantity of the entries.

While the entry fee guarantees your innovation is reviewed by TIME editors and puts your work on their radar, it does not guarantee selection for the final list. We cannot provide specific odds or acceptance rates for any category as the competitive landscape varies each year based on the quality and quantity of submissions.

Due to the high volume of entries, TIME editors are unable to provide individual feedback on non-selected entries. However, we do share key insights and business trends in our newsletter following the publication of the final list.

TIME will notify honorees on a rolling basis a few weeks prior to the list publication in October 2026.

All innovations chosen for the list receive a short write-up in print and on TIME.com outlining its function and significance. The list will also be promoted across TIME’s print magazine, website, and social media channels, plus select innovations may be featured on the cover of TIME.

While TIME cannot guarantee external promotion, the list has historically garnered substantial global media attention. Honorees also become part of an exclusive network TIME editors turn to throughout the year for coverage and thought leadership opportunities.

Yes, if your innovation is selected for the list, you will have the option to license TIME Best Inventions content and seals for use in marketing and promotional materials. TIME will reach out directly to all honorees with details about licensing options.

Yes, we host office hours sessions every season to answer questions and provide guidance on the entry process. To be notified when registration opens, please sign up for our newsletter.

The official terms and conditions are available on TIME.com. Please review them before submitting your entry.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to help.timebestinventions@awards-support.com.