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Proudly Presented By
Presented by Travelstead
The 2026 PAVE + VMSD Window Awards
Celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship behind holiday windows across New York City and North America.
From the first glimpse on the sidewalk to the details that make people stop and look closer, holiday windows are a chance for retailers to tell a story.
The PAVE + VMSD Window Awards, presented by Travelstead, recognize the teams that bring those stories to life through visual merchandising.
Entries are open for 2026. There is no fee to enter.
Quick Facts
New York
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Award recognition: Live at the PAVE Gala on December 10th in New York City
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Who can enter: Retailers with holiday window displays in New York City
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Categories: Department Store and Specialty Store
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Deadline: Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern
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Estimated time to enter: ~20–30 minutes per entry once your photos, display description, and store information are ready.
North America
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Award recognition: Through PAVE Global and VMSD’s digital channels
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Who can enter: Retailers with holiday window displays in the United States, Canada, or Mexico
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Categories: One open category
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Deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern
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Estimated time to enter: ~20–30 minutes per entry once your photos, display description, and store information are ready.
About the Awards
Presented by Travelstead, the PAVE + VMSD Window Awards honor the design, visual merchandising, and technical skill that go into creating memorable holiday windows. From the original concept to the lighting, signage, and merchandise presentation, the awards celebrate the work that makes a holiday display worth stopping for.
The program began in New York City and expanded in 2025 to recognize holiday windows across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Who Can Enter
New York Window Awards
Retailers with holiday window displays in New York City may enter in one of two categories: Department Store or Specialty Store.
North America Window Awards
Retailers with holiday window displays in the United States, Canada, or Mexico may enter the open category.
New York City retailers may enter both awards using separate submission forms.
Submission Requirements
All entries must be submitted through Submittable. Have the following ready for your entry.
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Up to 25 high-resolution photos of your holiday window display.
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A detailed description of the display.
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Store information and contact details.
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A video of the display, if you’d like to include one.
Accepted photo formats
PDF, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, SVG, TIF, TIFF
Accepted video formats
MOV, MP4, WMV
Judging
A panel of industry professionals will review entries through Submittable. Both awards use the same three criteria.
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Originality and Creativity — The strength and originality of the concept and how creatively it’s expressed.
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Spirit of the Season — How well the display captures the holiday spirit through its story, mood, and details.
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Quality of Execution — The craftsmanship and technical execution of the display, including lighting, mechanics, signage, and the presentation of mannequins or merchandise.
Award Recognition
New York Window Awards
The Department Store and Specialty Store winners will be announced live at the 28th Annual PAVE Global Gala on Thursday, December 10, 2026, in New York City.
North America Window Awards
The winners will be announced through PAVE Global’s website, newsletter, and social channels, as well as VMSD Magazine’s platforms.
Before You Submit
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☐ You’ve selected the award you’re entering and, for New York entries, the appropriate store category.
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☐ You’ve selected up to 25 photos and checked that they’re in an accepted format.
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☐ Your entry includes a detailed description of the display and complete store and contact information.
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☐ If you’re entering both awards, you’re using the separate Submittable form for each.
Have Questions?
Please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.
The PAVE + VMSD Window Awards is Proudly Presented By
