The ALMA Awards

The ALMA Awards

Honoring achievements in audio product development

Recognizing the people, teams, technology, and innovations celebrated by the industry.

Hosted by
Audio Product Development Alliance
Practical Knowledge Sharing for the Audio Industry
Connect. Learn. Apply.
In partnership with the ALTI Association and audioXpress®

Event Overview

ALMA Award Ceremony 2018
ALMA Award Ceremony, 2018
  • Format
    Standalone event
  • Attendance
    100–150 attendees
  • Duration
    60–90-minute ceremony
  • Broadcast
    Live stream on YouTube
  • Awards
    5–7 categories
  • Venue
    To be determined

ALMA Award Categories

Traditional annual recognitions plus distinctive awards.

Individual Recognition Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

Honoring a career of lasting impact on audio product development.

Technical Innovation Award

Recognizing a breakthrough in audio engineering or technology.

Design Excellence Award

Celebrating outstanding achievement in audio product design.

Emerging Innovator Award

Spotlighting a rising talent shaping the industry's future.

Company, Division, or Team Recognition Awards

Collaborative Achievement Award

Recognizing a company, division, or team—accepted by an individual representative.

ALMA Awards History

Past ALMA Awards winners
Mike Klasco, 2018  ·  Cliff Digre, 2011
  • Originally hosted by the ALTI Association
  • A decade of heritage
  • The best of the industry, awarded for remarkable achievements

Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

A legacy of industry leadership
  • 2019Gunnar Rasmussen — founder of G.R.A.S. Sound and Vibration
  • 2018Chris Strahm — founder of LinearX
  • 2017Bob Gault — founder of Eminence Loudspeaker
  • 2016Patrick Quilter — founder of QSC
  • 2015Richard Small — Senior Principal Engineer, Harman/Becker Automotive Systems
  • 2014Dr. Amar G. Bose — Bose Corporation
  • 2013Paul Klipsch — founder of Klipsch Loudspeakers
  • 2013Vance Dickason
  • 2012Matthew Polk — co-founder of Polk Audio
  • 2012Edgar Vilchur — founder of Acoustic Research
  • 2011Don Keele — Chief Consultant, DBK Associates and DBK Labs
  • 2011Floyd Toole — acoustical consultant

The 2026 Event Timeline

From public announcement to the CES 2027 ceremony.

June 2026
Public announcement of the ALMA Awards program
July – August 2026
Sponsor and partner participation finalized
September 1–4, 2026
Jury meeting at CEDIA Expo to finalize categories and review process
Late September 2026
Final categories and open nomination process announced
October 2026
Public nomination period opens on the ALMA Awards landing page
Early November 2026
Nominations close; jury members announced publicly
November 2026
Jury reviews nominations and ranks nominees (confidential)
December 2026
Final jury meeting with notary to select winners (confidential)
January 2027 · CES
ALMA Awards ceremony — winners announced; YouTube live broadcast

A Two-Phase Selection Model

Public nomination followed by jury selection — broad engagement balanced with expert curation and credible results.

Criteria

  • Individual focus: awards go to people, not companies
  • Product awards accepted by individuals: when recognizing products, a named individual accepts
  • International scope: eligibility is global, with no geographic restrictions

Public Nomination

  • Open nomination via the ALMA Awards landing page
  • The industry community submits nominations with supporting rationale
  • Limited to one nomination per person; self-nominations are not permitted

Jury Selection

  • The jury reviews all nominations and conducts independent research
  • The jury may add nominees not submitted publicly
  • Winners are kept secret until the CES 2027 ceremony

The Jury

Members

8–12 recognized names from across audio product and technology disciplines, reflecting geographic and cultural diversity in keeping with the awards' international scope. Future events will include previous winners on the jury.

Engineering Software Development Acoustics Industrial Design Manufacturing Product Management AI Integration Research Test & Measurement

Disclosure

  • During the nomination period: jury members remain confidential to prevent lobbying.
  • After nominations close: jury members are announced publicly.

2026 Event Sponsors

ALMA Awards trophies

Learn More About the ALMA Awards

Contact the APDA for sponsorship, partnership, and program details.

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