Refreshment focuses on the water dispenser/cooler, office coffee service and vending sectors, while also taking an in-depth look into products for vending from bottled water and drinks, to snacks and confectionery. It also focuses on hydration, health and wellness, new technologies and environmental and social responsibility issues.
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The winners of the Global Water Drinks Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising achievements across the international packaged-water industry.
Organised by FoodBev Media, the awards celebrate innovation across the category, from natural mineral waters and flavoured and functional products to packaging design, emerging concepts, technology and business initiatives.
This year’s results reflect the breadth of work taking place across water drinks, with recognition spanning product development, packaging materials, technical innovation and sustainability projects.
The packaging categories cover glass, metal and PET, alongside sustainable packaging solutions, while separate awards recognise new water concepts, technology and initiatives focused on corporate responsibility and marketing.
The range of winning categories highlights the different ways companies are approaching innovation in water drinks. Together, the results offer a snapshot of the ideas and projects attracting recognition across the sector, from the water itself to the wider systems and initiatives surrounding it.
The Global Water Drinks Awards 2026 winners were revealed at the awards ceremony during the Global Water Drinks Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on 4 November, bringing together industry professionals to celebrate this year’s achievements.
Global Water Drinks Awards 2026 Results
Best Products of 2026
Best Brand Extension
WINNER Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica mandarin
FINALIST Volvic | Volvic Vitamin+
Winner | AQUA Carpatica Mandarin 
Finalist | Volvic Vitamin+
Best Flavoured Water
WINNER Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica mandarin
FINALIST Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica raspberry
FINALIST Ocean52 | Ocean52 WaterPower
COMMENDED Clearly Canadian | Clearly Canadian mountain blackberry
COMMENDED Élevé | Beauty (strawberry rose)
Winner | AQUA Carpatica Mandarin 
Finalist | AQUA Carpatica Raspberry 
Finalist | Ocean52 WaterPower 
Commended | Clearly Canadian Mountain Blackberry 
Commended | Beauty (Strawberry Rose)
Best Functional Water
WINNER Volvic | Volvic Vitamin+
FINALIST Chlorophyll Water | Chlorophyll Water
FINALIST Ocean52 | Ocean52 WaterPower
COMMENDED Birštonas Mineral Water | Akvilė Spasparkling
COMMENDED Élevé | Dream (blueberry lavender)
COMMENDED Sotherma | Powerboost by Sidi Harazem – cucumber and mint
Winner | Volvic Vitamin+ 
Finalist | Chlorophyll Water 
Finalist | Ocean52 WaterPower 
Commended | Akvilė SPAsparkling 
Commended | Dream (Blueberry Lavender) 
Commended | Powerboost By Sidi Harazem - Cucumber & Mint
Best Natural Sparkling Water
WINNER Chorq | Signature sparkling
FINALIST Maya | Maya water – sparkling
COMMENDED Aqua Pura | Aqua Pura sparkling natural mineral water
Winner | Signature Sparkling 
Finalist | Maya water - Sparkling 
Commended | Aqua Pura Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Best Natural Still Water
WINNER Maya | Maya water
FINALIST Chorq | Signature still
FINALIST Lira | Lira Aqua
COMMENDED Aqua Pura | Aqua Pura natural mineral water
COMMENDED Freya Water | Freya Water
Winner | Maya water 
Finalist | Signature Still 
Commended | Aqua Pura Natural Mineral Water 
Commended | FREYA WATER
Best Premium Water
WINNER Aqua Matters | Jääde natural mineral water
FINALIST Chorq | Still reserve natural artesian spring water
FINALIST Maya | Maya water
COMMENDED Freya Water | Freya Water
COMMENDED Lira | Lira Aqua
COMMENDED Ocean52 | No plastic water: Natural mineral water in a premium stylish minimally designed aluminium bottle customisable
Winner | JÄÄDE Natural Mineral Water 
Finalist | Still Reserve Natural Artesian Spring Water 
Finalist | Maya water 
Commended | FREYA WATER 
Commended | No Plastic Water
Best Innovations of 2026
Best Technology Innovation
WINNER Dose-Tec | Flavordose
FINALIST Be Wtr | AQTiV Filter
COMMENDED One Water | One Water virtual insight trip
Winner | FLAVORDOSE® 
Finalist | AQTiV Filter 
Commended | One Water Virtual Insight Trip
Best New Water Concept
WINNER Chlorophyll Water | Chlorophyll Water
FINALIST Sotherma | Powerboost by Sidi Harazem – cucumber and mint
Winner | Chlorophyll Water 
Finalist | Powerboost By Sidi Harazem - Cucumber & Mint
Best Designs of 2026
Best Glass Design
WINNER Chorq | Still reserve and sparkling edition natural artesian spring water
FINALIST Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages | Paʻa
COMMENDED Maya | Maya water
Winner | Still Reserve & Sparkling Edition Natural Artesian Spring Water 
Finalist | Paʻa 
Commended | Maya water
Best Metal Design
WINNER Trivium Packaging | Primo Brands – MLB Spring Training
FINALIST Chorq | 330ml aluminium can signature still and signature sparkling natural artesian carbonated spring water
FINALIST Soul Water | Soul Water 500ml Alubottle
COMMENDED Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica 330ml sparkling can – pure sparkle in a can
COMMENDED Ball Corporation | Iceland Spring still water
COMMENDED Be Wtr | Be Wtr Go
Winner | Primo Brands - MLB Spring Training 
Finalist | 330ml Aluminium Can Signature Sparkling Natural Artesian Carbonated Spring Water 
Finalist | Soul Water 500ml Alubottle 
Commended | AQUA Carpatica 330ml Sparkling Can – Pure Sparkle in a Can 
Commended | Iceland Spring Still Water 
Commended | BE WTR GO
Best PET Design
WINNER Niagara Bottling | Niagara label-free bottle
FINALIST Icelandic Glacial | 750ml sportscap
COMMENDED Água Pedra Azul | Pedra Azul flavoured water Sicilian lemon
Winner | Niagara Label-Free Bottle 
Finalist | 750ml Sportscap 
Commended | Pedra Azul Flavoured Water Sicilian Lemon
Best Packaging/Label Design
WINNER Chorq | Still reserve and sparkling edition natural artesian spring water
FINALIST Freya Water | Freya Water
FINALIST Trivium Packaging | Primo Brands MLB Spring Training collection
COMMENDED Água Pedra Azul | Pedra Azul flavoured water strawberry
COMMENDED Ball Corporation | Iceland spring still water
COMMENDED Birštonas Mineral Waters | Natural mineral water Vytautas
COMMENDED Lira | Lira Aqua
COMMENDED Volvic | Volvic Vitamin+
Winner | Still Reserve & Sparkling Edition Natural Artesian Spring Water 
Finalist | FREYA WATER 
Finalist | Primo Brands MLB Spring Training Collection 
Commended | Pedra Azul Flavoured Water Strawberry 
Commended | Iceland Spring Still Water 
Commended | Natural Mineral Water Vytautas Commended | Lira Aqua 
Commended | Volvic Vitamin+
Best Sustainable Packaging
WINNER Soul Water | Soul Water 500ml alubottle
FINALIST Niagara Bottling | Niagara label-free bottle
FINALIST Ocean52 | No plastic water: Natural mineral water in a premium stylish minimally designed aluminium bottle customisable
COMMENDED Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica 330ml Can – Sustainability designed into every sip
COMMENDED Be Wtr | Be Wtr Go
Winner | Soul Water 500ml Alubottle 
Finalist | Niagara Label-Free Bottle 
Finalist | No Plastic Water: natural mineral water in a premium stylish minimally designed aluminiu 
Commended | AQUA Carpatica 330ml Can – Sustainability Designed into Every Sip 
Commended | BE WTR GO
Best Business Initiatives and Campaigns of 2026
Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative
WINNER Ocean52 | Ocean52 Bottle x Bottle No plastic water – Aluminium bottle: Every bottle picks up a bottle's worth of plastic from the ocean
FINALIST Soul Water | Soul Water alubottle, Soul Water can
Winner | Ocean52 Bottle x Bottle 
Finalist | Soul Water Alubottle, Soul Water Can
Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign
WINNER One Water | One Water ‘Walk for Water’
FINALIST Aqua Carpatica | Aqua Carpatica – Making informed choice refreshing
FINALIST Niagara Bottling | World Cup hydration breaks campaign
COMMENDED Aqua Pura | Aqua Pura natural mineral water
COMMENDED Niagara Bottling | Niagara label-free campaign
COMMENDED Ocean Beverages | Life refreshed – Ocean beverages
Winner | One Water ‘Walk for Water’ 
Finalist | AQUA Carpatica – Making Informed Choice Refreshing 
Finalist | World Cup Hydration Breaks Campaign 
Commended | Aqua Pura Natural Mineral Water 
Commended | Niagara Label-Free Campaign 
Commended | Life Refreshed - Ocean Beverages
Best New Brand
WINNER Lira Aqua
FINALIST Freya Water
Winner | Lira Aqua 
Finalist | FREYA WATER
2026 Judging Panel
Michael Cervin, Author 
Arthur von Wiesenberger, Executive Producer & host of award-winning television series, AnimalZone 
Ruriko Suzuki Water, Sommelier & Board Member, Japan Aqua Sommelier Association 
Pat Eckert, Managing Director, FINE LIQUIDS 
Silvia Ștefănucă-Șerban, Certified Water Sommelier 
Rafaela Sousa, News Reporter, FoodBev Media
The results draw on a judging panel whose experience spans bottled-water history, sensory evaluation, gastronomy and industry journalism. Arthur von Wiesenberger has spent more than four decades working in the bottled-water sector and has judged thousands of waters, while Michael Cervin’s career combines specialist water writing with extensive experience judging international tasting competitions.
Water sommeliers Ruriko Suzuki, Pat Eckert and Silvia Ștefănucă-Șerban bring expertise in evaluating water’s sensory qualities, understanding mineral character and exploring its role in gastronomy and hospitality. Their work ranges from water and food pairing to mineral-water curation and specialist education. Rafaela Sousa adds an industry news perspective through her reporting for FoodBev Media.
The judging process reflects the range of categories covered by the awards. Samples are required for the best product categories, allowing entries to be tasted and evaluated directly, while design, technology and business entries are assessed using the information supplied by entrants. This approach enables the awards to recognise achievement across both water products and the wider work involved in developing, presenting and bringing them to market.
About FoodBev Awards
FoodBev Media awards schemes have been running for more than 20 years and are now recognised as the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry.
For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com or email awards@foodbev.com.
