The awards year
JIMSO runs on a simple annual rhythm. Four seasonal cycles each name their own finalists and winners, and together they feed a single yearly event: the Annual JIMSO Awards, held in late January.
Four seasonal cycles
Within a cycle, entrants apply in one or more categories, pass an independent eligibility and evidence review, and are scored by the jury against a weighted 0-100 rubric. Up to five finalists are named per category, and a single winner is chosen - or none, if the quality threshold is not met.
The four cycles use the same criteria and the same scoring model, so a Spring result and an Autumn result carry equal weight.
How the two relate
Seasonal cycles are the way in. The annual awards are the peak.
You cannot skip the standard. Once the seasonal cycles have run, most of the annual shortlist is made up of products that already proved themselves in a season. Annual-only entries exist for products that arrive late in the year, but they can never dominate the field.
The annual model
Every seasonal finalist from the year qualifies automatically and free of charge. A controlled number of annual-only entries is admitted, capped at no more than 30 percent of the annual shortlist, so once the seasons have run the majority of the field has already earned recognition.
Autumn
The Autumn Awards 2026 are open now - the first seasonal cycle.
Winter
The next seasonal round; finalists qualify for the annual round.
Spring
A complete seasonal round; finalists qualify for the annual round.
Summer
A complete seasonal round; finalists qualify for the annual round.
Annual
The peak: seasonal finalists are re-judged for the yearly benchmark, announced late January.
The yearly rhythm
See the round that is open now on the current season page, or read how the annual awards are decided.