Award of Excellence
Presented to entries demonstrating exceptional print quality within each category. Multiple may be awarded when judges determine the work meets the required standard.
Print Competition
Print UV Excellence Awards
Juried competitionCycle 2027
Put your best UV and LED UV work in front of the industry — commercial print, packaging and labels, judged for quality, craft and innovation.
Nominations and entries open October 1, 2026.
Award Levels
From category honors to Best of Show
Multiple Awards of Excellence may be given when the work meets the standard. Best in Category and Best of Show are singular.
Best in Category
Awarded to the highest-scoring entry within each category. Only one Best in Category winner is selected per category.
Best of Show
Chosen from all Best in Category winners — the finest UV printed piece entered into the competition.
Innovation in UV Printing
Recognizes an entry that demonstrates exceptional innovation in the application of UV or LED UV printing technology.
Categories
Commercial print, packaging and labels
Entries must have been produced within the previous twelve months using UV or LED UV curing. Choose the category that best describes the submitted piece.
Commercial printing
- Brochures & marketing collateral
- Direct mail
- Books, catalogs & publications
- Specialty commercial print
Packaging
- Folding cartons
- Flexible packaging
- Rigid packaging
- Corrugated packaging
Labels
- Pressure sensitive labels
- Shrink sleeve labels
- In-mold & specialty labels
Judging
How entries are scored
Judges do not score entries from their own organization.
01
Technical evaluation
Each entry is independently scored by industry experts against weighted criteria.
02
Best in Category
Highest-scoring entries are reviewed by the full panel to name Best in Category winners.
03
Best of Show
Best in Category winners are evaluated together to choose Best of Show.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 35% |
| Color accuracy & consistency | 20% |
| Technical difficulty | 15% |
| Innovation | 15% |
| Finishing & overall presentation | 15% |
What To Bring
A complete entry tells the production story
Each entry should include:
- Company and project information
- Printing process and UV or LED UV technology used
- Press manufacturer, ink system, substrate and finishing
- Production challenges overcome
- High-resolution photography of the finished piece
- Physical sample when practical (shipping instructions after entry)
Ready to enter?
Entries open October 1, 2026. Preview the multi-step form now so you know which photos and production details to gather.
At the conference
Print UV Excellence Gallery
Award of Excellence and Best in Category winners are displayed during Print UV 2027. Attendees study the work up close — technologies, substrates and techniques behind each piece.
Recipients receive:
- Custom crystal award and certificate
- Recognition during the Print UV Conference
- Featured profile on the Print UV website
- Press release and social media recognition
- Digital award logo for marketing and promotional use
- Display in the Print UV Excellence Gallery at the conference
You are here
October 2026
Competition opens
Innovator nominations and Excellence entries open for the Print UV 2027 cycle.
January 2027
Entry deadline
Final day to submit Innovator nominations and Excellence entries.
February 2027
Judging
Independent scoring and panel review across both award programs.
March 2027
Recipients notified
Finalists and recipients receive notification ahead of the conference.
April 2027
Awards at Print UV
Presentation and Excellence Gallery at Print UV 2027 — April 19–21, 2027 at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.
Stay Close
Hear when entries open
Excellence Award entries for the 2027 cycle open October 1, 2026. Join the updates list for reminders and gallery news.