1. Nomination Phase• Duration: Feb 1 – March 31, 2026

Public nominations via online form (limited to one vote per category)

Nominate Your Product (limited to one category)

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2. Shortlisting Phase• Duration: April 1 – April 15, 2026

• Conducted By:• WPC Selection Committee (industry experts, athletes, journalists)

• Criteria: innovation, performance, design, impact, popularity

• Outcome:• Top 5 finalists per category announced on April 16

• Finalists showcased on the official website and social media

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3. Public Voting Phase• Duration: May 1 – Aug 31, 2026

• Voting Platform:• Official Pickle Choice Awards website

• QR codes at WPC booths and retail partner locations

• Social media voting integration (Instagram Stories, Twitter polls)

• Voting Rules:• One vote per category per email/IP• Voters can opt into sponsor sweepstakes or giveaways• Real-time leaderboard updates (optional)

 

4. Judging Panel Vote• Duration: Sept 1– Sept 30, 2026

• Panel Composition:• 10–15 judges from pro pickleball, product design, sports media• Weighting:• Public vote = 60%• Panel vote = 40%• Judging Criteria:• Innovation, usability, performance, market impact, design

 

5. Award Ceremony• Date: Oct 17, 2026 at the World Pickleball Convention

• Format:• Live announcements• Sponsor mentions and product showcases• Award presentation and media coverage• Winners featured in post-event press kit and recap video