Every year there are some really cool products that come out in both the outdoor cooking and outdoor living categories. As one of the largest retailers, The Home Depot is a leader at bringing innovative products to consumers.
Innovative products are good for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, so The Home Depot recognizes innovative products with their Innovation Awards. They just announced the 2026 Innovation Awards winners at their Annual Supplier Partnership Meeting.
Our customers count on The Home Depot for the best products to get the job done. Our supplier partners continue to raise the bar, bringing us innovative products that save our Pros and DIYers time and money and make home improvement more attainable for everyone.
Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising at The Home Depot
Even Embers Santa Maria Grill
This year, the first runner up was a grill that offered value and innovative cooking solutions. Showing how Santa Maria grills are growing in popularity, the Even Embers Santa Maria Grill took the honors.
It retails for $499 and offers lots of cooking versatility. It has multiple ways to cook over an open flame with a pulley system to raise and lower the cooking grate, meat hooks to hang off the cross-bar, and warming racks on a pole system that are height adjustable.
As popular as Santa Maria style cooking became this year, next year I think it will really heat up. There will be some big names releasing Santa Maria grills.
Hampton Bay/Glacier Bay ClickReady Technology
The product that took home the win at the Innovation Awards was from inside the home, but I wanted to call it out because it’s an innovative technology that could have future applications in outdoor kitchens. The winner was Hampton Bay/Glacier Bay Ready to Assemble Cabinets with ClickReady Technology.
Your wrist will thank you because these cabinets require no tools or glue for assembly. They come flat packed and just snap together. Check out the video in the link to the product page at Home Depot.
Nexgrill
In addition to the Innovation Awards, The Home Depot also recognized outstanding supplier Partner of the Year recipients in each merchandising category. In the Outdoor Living & Cleaning category, Nexgrill too home the honors.
They’ve been a key partner with The Home Depot for years, offering value and innovation across multiple grill lines. They also have received vendor honors in previous years.