Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show

Nominations open for 2026 Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Awards

Image: Connect Media

July 13, 2026 by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Summarize with

The organizers of the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation (ARKI) Show are accepting nominations for the 2026 ARKI Awards, recognizing the companies, products, deployments and technologies driving innovation across the automated retail, kiosk, vending and self-service industries. The awards will be presented during the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show, scheduled for Dec. 14-16, 2026, in Miami Beach, Florida, where industry leaders will gather to explore the technologies and business strategies shaping the next generation of unattended commerce.

The event will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, an exhibit hall and networking events focused on the future of self-service and automated retail.

What winning means

Awards will recognize achievements in areas including product innovation, artificial intelligence, customer experience, payment technology, digital signage, robotics, smart vending, kiosks, micromarkets, accessibility, sustainability and industry leadership. Manufacturers, operators, software developers, systems integrators, suppliers and end users are encouraged to submit nominations for products, and deployments that have demonstrated measurable business impact over the past year.

Winning an ARKI Award provides companies with third-party recognition for innovation while showcasing their accomplishments before a broad audience of decision-makers representing retail, foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, education and other sectors adopting self-service technologies. The recognition also increases visibility among prospective customers, partners and investors attending the event.

Winners will be announced during the week of Oct. 19, 2026, and each will receive:

Recognition as an ARKI Award winner in a story published on Connect Retail Technology sites including KioskMarketplace.com, VendingTimes.com and RetailCustomerExperience.com.
Promotion across Connect Retail Technology social media channels.
Graphic for you to announce your selection as a winner to your followers.
One complimentary pass to attend the ARKI Awards presentation ceremony at the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show.

Nominate your brand now

Entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts. Up to 10 awards will be presented, with one of those revealed at the show as "Innovator of the Year." Additionally, organizers have announced that, for this year, they are waiving the $200 nomination fee for all submissions.

Submit your nominations here. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 4.

The ARKI Awards are just one reason to attend the conference. Attendees will also be able to explore exhibits featuring the latest self-service kiosks, AI-powered vending, micromarkets, autonomous retail technologies and unattended payment systems while attending educational sessions focused on deploying, managing and scaling automated retail operations.

The conference is expected to draw convenience services operators, venue owners, technology providers and end users from retail, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, education and other sectors. ARKI offers one of the few forums where stakeholders can examine how these technologies are working in real-world deployments.

Early-bird registration for the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show is now open. Register here.

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Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show

December 14-16, 2026 | Miami Beach, FL

Explore the latest breakthroughs in automated retail, interactive kiosks, and unattended technology — and unlock new ways to serve customers and grow revenue.

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About Richard Slawsky

In addition to writing, Slawsky serves as an adjunct professor of Communication at the University of Louisville and other local colleges. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Louisville and is a member of Mensa and the National Communication Association.

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