What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 issue names 111 winning hi-fi and AV products

Awards 2026 issue is on sale now

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 issue of the magazine went on sale on 13 November 2026, according to What Hi-Fi?. The special bumper edition announces the winners of this year's Awards, which recognise the best hi-fi and home entertainment products across a wide range of categories.

This is the 44th year of the Awards, which began a few years after the magazine itself. The What Hi-Fi? brand dates back to 1976, and the magazine recently marked its 50th birthday with a special edition.

The publication says the Awards issue is traditionally its biggest seller of the year, as readers return to it when choosing new equipment.

111 winners across 24 categories

According to What Hi-Fi?, this year's rigorous testing produced 111 winning products across 24 categories. The winners span the whole home entertainment spectrum, from televisions, projectors and soundbars to wireless speakers and noise-cancelling earbuds.

The magazine's reviewers spent the past year testing new hi-fi and AV kit, then re-examined the strongest performers in each category before choosing the winners. Products receive Best Buy Awards within their own category, aimed at helping readers pick well-performing kit at different budgets.

The Product of the Year trophies were presented at an Awards ceremony in London, the magazine says. The full list of winners appears in the new issue, alongside a Buyer's Guide collecting the magazine's recommendations for home entertainment purchases.

Rega turntable takes a top honour

Among the new reviews in the issue is the Rega Planar 6 RS Edition turntable. What Hi-Fi? describes it as a Rega Special package that upgrades the standard Planar 6 with parts and build quality from the dearer Planar 8, in the same approach the company took with the Planar 3 RS Edition.

The magazine reveals in the issue that the Planar 6 RS Edition is its Product of the Year in the turntables category. Readers will find the full verdict in the magazine itself.

First Tests cover players, speakers and phones

The issue's First Tests section carries in-depth reviews of recently launched products. These include Astell & Kern's PD5 portable music player and the Dali Sonik 5 5.1 home cinema speaker package, which the magazine says makes strong use of Dali's new Sonik speakers.

Also reviewed is the 48-inch version of the LG C6 OLED TV, which What Hi-Fi? notes is an Award winner. Further reviews cover the Apple iPhone 18 Pro, the Topping DX1 II digital-to-analogue converter, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds and the Technics EAH-A1000 over-ear headphones.

The magazine is available in print and as a digital download for tablets and smartphones.

Why the Awards matter to buyers

The Awards aim to give readers a shortlist of class-leading products at a range of budgets, so they can buy with confidence. What Hi-Fi? says each winner has been tested and compared against rivals by its review team.

The magazine also argues that the Awards' longevity, nearly five decades after the brand began, shows the hi-fi and AV industry still values independent testing. For anyone planning an upgrade to a stereo system, home cinema or headphone set-up, the issue serves as a single reference point for the year's best-reviewed kit.