SALONS OF THE YEAR 2026: Extended Deadline and Photography Tips
The deadline for the 2026 SALONS OF THE YEAR competition has been extended to August 31, 2026, and the organizers are offering photography tips to help applicants showcase their interior design.
The SALONS OF THE YEAR competition, which showcases the best in interior design of new or newly remodeled salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, and schools, has extended its deadline to midnight PST, August 31, 2026.
Participating businesses must submit short essays and up to 10 professional images showcasing their interior design. Finalists will be asked to provide tour videos for an experiential coverage of the competition.
To help applicants showcase their interior design, the organizers are offering some photography tips. It's highly recommended that entrants use a professional photographer who has specific experience in photographing interior environments. Salon mirrors and lighting are just two challenges to capturing the ambiance and impact of your beautiful new look.
Limit people in your shots: While we encourage applicants to enter one photograph of their owner/s or a team shot, the bulk of the images selected should focus on the design and not have people in them.
Limit the clutter: While it's perfectly acceptable to have product in areas where product makes sense-retail shelves, the backbar in the shampoo area, the color mixing area, we suggest eliminating clutter on the stations and front desk by having staff members store their products for the photo shoot.
Remove protective coverings: In an effort to preserve the newness of their interior design, owners sometimes leave the plastic coverings on the salon chairs and equipment. Please remove these for your photo shoot.
Undecorate: Holiday decorations can date your images. Please remove any Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, or Halloween décor before you conduct your photoshoot.
Mix up Photo Formats: In the age of Instagram, people have become used to shooting images vertically, but that doesn’t always show us the best view of your new design. Incorporate a mix of horizontal and vertical images to show your salon in its best light.
The SALONS OF THE YEAR competition is an annual event that showcases the best in interior design of new or newly remodeled salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, and schools. The competition is open to all businesses in the industry, and the deadline for submission is midnight PST, August 31, 2026.
The competition will be judged on the submitted images, and the finalists will be asked to provide tour videos for an experiential coverage of the competition. The winners will be announced on salontoday.com, and the tour videos will be incorporated into the experiential SALONS OF THE YEAR COVERAGE.
The SALONS OF THE YEAR competition is a great opportunity for businesses in the industry to showcase their interior design and compete with other businesses. The competition is open to all businesses, and the deadline for submission is midnight PST, August 31, 2026.
## Photography Tips
To help applicants showcase their interior design, the organizers are offering some photography tips. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
| Tip | Description | | --- | --- | | Use a professional photographer | It's highly recommended that entrants use a professional photographer who has specific experience in photographing interior environments. | | Limit people in your shots | While we encourage applicants to enter one photograph of their owner/s or a team shot, the bulk of the images selected should focus on the design and not have people in them. | | Limit the clutter | While it's perfectly acceptable to have product in areas where product makes sense-retail shelves, the backbar in the shampoo area, the color mixing area, we suggest eliminating clutter on the stations and front desk by having staff members store their products for the photo shoot. | | Remove protective coverings | In an effort to preserve the newness of their interior design, owners sometimes leave the plastic coverings on the salon chairs and equipment. Please remove these for your photo shoot. | | Undecorate | Holiday decorations can date your images. Please remove any Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, or Halloween décor before you conduct your photoshoot. | | Mix up Photo Formats | In the age of Instagram, people have become used to shooting images vertically, but that doesn’t always show us the best view of your new design. Incorporate a mix of horizontal and vertical images to show your salon in its best light. |
The SALONS OF THE YEAR competition is a great opportunity for businesses in the industry to showcase their interior design and compete with other businesses. The competition is open to all businesses, and the deadline for submission is midnight PST, August 31, 2026.
