News

WorldStar 2026 Applications Now Open

A new chapter has begun in the international competition journey for the winners of the Crescent and Stars for Packaging Competition 2024, organized by the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD). Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the WorldStar Awards, organized annually by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).

According to ASD, all designs that won at least a Competence Award in the Crescent and Stars for Packaging 2024 are once again eligible to apply for WorldStar. Established in 1970, WorldStar is recognized as one of the most prestigious global awards in the packaging industry.

Application Timeline

Application deadline: October 15, 2025

Results announcement: January 9, 2026

Awards ceremony: May 2026

The competition accepts entries in 19 main categories, including food, beverages, electronics, healthcare and personal care, industrial packaging, e-commerce, and digital packaging. In addition, entries can be submitted for WPO Special Awards such as Sustainability, Marketing, Save Food, Packaging that Saves, Ease of Use, and the President’s Award.

The jury will evaluate submissions based on criteria such as product protection performance, ease of use, sales appeal, quality of application, cost efficiency, sustainability, creativity, and innovation. ASD advises candidate companies to strengthen their applications with high-resolution product photographs and clear, data-based descriptions.

Applicants are also encouraged to review previous WorldStar-winning packaging and companies on the WPO website, as well as to study WPO’s detailed evaluation criteria, to increase their chances of success with dossiers tailored to international jury expectations.

Applications must be submitted individually through www.worldstar.org. Entry fees are set at €650 for the first product and €500 for each additional product.

Turkey’s Success in 2025

As a reminder, Turkey achieved remarkable success at WorldStar 2025 with products that had previously won in the Crescent and Stars for Packaging Competition. Out of 550 projects submitted from 40 countries, 260 were awarded, and Turkey secured 17 awards, ranking among the top five most successful countries.

The WorldStar 2025 Awards Ceremony was held on May 30, 2025, in Milan, Italy, during the IPACK-IMA trade fair, one of the industry’s most significant international events. The ceremony brought together more than 400 leading industry representatives from around the world.