Australian mums are some of the savviest, most influential shoppers in the country. They research, compare, seek recommendations and trust other mums before they buy. And when they love something, they don’t keep it to themselves.
That’s exactly why the Mum Central Awards matter.
Each year, the Mum Central Awards shine a spotlight on the products and brands Australian mums genuinely trust. After the incredible success of last year’s program, the 2026 Mum Central Awards are back with more categories, more visibility and an even bigger platform to showcase the best in parenting, kids, lifestyle and family living.
Nominations are now open.
Why Mum Central?
Mum Central isn’t just another parenting website. We’re one of Australia’s most trusted and influential voices for mums, built over more than a decade by mums, for mums.
Every month, millions of Australian women turn to Mum Central for real advice, honest reviews and recommendations they genuinely trust. We don’t tell mums what to buy. We help them decide.
And when mums decide together, brands feel it.
Real Reach. Real Influence. Real Mums.
Our audience is highly engaged. These are mums who read, click, comment, share, vote and buy.
With a digital network that reaches over one million women and extends to tens of millions more through social media, newsletters and content distribution, Mum Central is where purchasing decisions are shaped, especially in parenting, kids, lifestyle and family living.
This is why brands, retailers and partners pay attention when Mum Central mums speak.
Mum-Voted Awards That Actually Mean Something
The Mum Central Awards are powered by real Australian mums. No judging panels. No industry insiders. No politics.
When a product or service wins, it’s because mums voted it their favourite, based on real-world use in real homes with real families.
That kind of endorsement builds instant trust and carries serious weight across marketing, PR, retail, packaging and point-of-sale.
Why Enter the 2026 Mum Central Awards?
Entering the Mum Central Awards puts your brand directly in front of the mums who influence household purchasing every single day.
By entering, you can:
- Gain national recognition across millions of Australian women
- Showcase standout products and services to families actively seeking the best
- Build credibility and trust through genuine mum voting
- Leverage award status across marketing, packaging, retail and PR
- Reach a massive, highly engaged audience through Mum Central’s digital network
In 2025, we saw record engagement, tens of thousands of voting mums, strong readership across nominee and winner features, and significant visibility for every participating brand. In 2026, the program is bigger again.
2026 Award Key Dates
- Nominations & Submissions: 12 January – 13 February 2026
- All Entries Complete & Paid: 22 February 2026
- Nominees Announced & Voting Begins: 3 March 2026
- Voting Closes: 3 April 2026
- Winners Announced: 30 April 2026
2026 Mum Central Award Categories
Introducing the 2026 Mum Central Award Categories
We’ve expanded our categories to capture every corner of parenting and family life, from newborn essentials and feeding favourites to tech, travel, services, playtime and more.
PRAMS:
Best Travel Pram
Best Single Pram
Best Double Pram
Best Pram for Newborn
Best Pram Under $1,000
NURSERY:
Best Cot, Bassinet or Co-Sleeper
Best Playmat
Best Nursery Product
SLEEP:
Best Baby Monitor
Best Sleep Product
Best Baby Sleepwear
TRAVEL:
Best Car Seats & Capsules
Best Baby Carrier
Best Travel Product
NAPPY:
Best Nappy
Best Nappy Bags
Best Baby Wipes
FASHION:
Best Kids Clothing Brand
Best Baby Clothing Brand
Best Kids Swimwear Brand
PLAYTIME:
Best Educational Toy
Best Interactive Toy
Best Preschool Product (0–5 years)
Best Board Game or Card Game
Best Toy Brand
HEALTH:
Best Skin Product for Baby
Best Skin Product for Kids
Best Health Product or Service
FEEDING:
Best Baby Food Product, Accessory or Range
Best Baby Weaning Product
Best Toddler Feeding Product
Best Breast Pump
Best Breastfeeding Product
HOME & LIFESTYLE:
Best Cleaning Product
Best Kitchen Product
Best Home Lifestyle Product
Best Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Product
EXCELLENCE AWARDS:
Best Pregnancy/Maternity Product of the Year
Best Baby Product of the Year
Best Toddler Product of the Year
Best Kids Product of the Year
Best Teens & Tweens Product of the Year
Best School Product
Best Educational Service
Best Tech Product
Best Kids Parties
Kids Activities Award
Easy Eats Award
Best Not-for-Profit Service
Best New Product of 2025
Best Parenting Product of the Year
Best Parenting Service of the Year
Best Product of the Year
Best Brand of the Year
These awards recognise innovation, safety, value, creativity and the products and services that genuinely support the lives of Australian families.
Nominate Your Product or Service Now!
Why Brands Love the Mum Central Awards
The Mum Central Awards aren’t just a badge; they’re a complete marketing asset.
- BOOST SALES: Parents actively look for, trust and purchase Mum Central Award–winning products. An award badge on your website, packaging or marketing instantly influences buying decisions.
- BUILD TRUST: Our voters are real mums across Australia. No panels, no politics, just genuine, community-backed validation.
- REACH A MASSIVE AUDIENCE: With more than a million women across our core network and tens of millions reached through extended channels, the visibility is unmatched.
- ELEVATE YOUR BRAND: From top-performing web features and social campaigns to newsletters, Reels, articles and traffic-driving content, nominees and winners are promoted across multiple channels.
- STAND OUT IN A CROWDED MARKET: With so many baby, kids and lifestyle brands competing for attention, a Mum Central Award is a powerful way to differentiate.
See our list of 2025 Mum Central Award Winners:
- 2025 Mum Central Award Winners: Best Prams & Travel
- 2025 Mum Central Award Winners: Pregnancy, Nappy & Health
- 2025 Mum Central Award Winners: Best Nursery, Sleep & Feeding
- 2025 Mum Central Award Winners: Lifestyle, Home & Toys
- 2025 Mum Central Award Winners: Excellence & Best Brands
The Fine Print and 2026 Awards FAQ
1. Can I nominate someone else’s products and services?
Absolutely. We encourage you to nominate as many of your favourite parenting products and services as you like. Want to nominate another product or service? Simply click here to submit a nomination. It’s free and as a bonus, every product or service you nominate automatically puts you in the draw to win 1 of 3 Kmart Gift Cards.
2. What happens if someone else nominates me?
If someone nominates your product or service, you’ll receive an email notification outlining the nomination details and category. From there, it’s over to you. You can choose whether to proceed and become an official nominee by completing the required submission, or not.
3. Can I nominate my own product or service?
Yes, you can. Brands are welcome to self-nominate. To submit your product or service, click here and follow the prompts.
4. Can I nominate the same product in more than one category?
Yes. If your product fits multiple categories, you can nominate it across more than one.
For example, a new eco-friendly baby travel product could be entered into Best Travel Product, Best Baby Product, Best New Product of the Year and Best Eco-Friendly Product, provided it genuinely meets the criteria for each.
5. Can I nominate multiple products from the same brand?
Definitely. If your brand offers more than one standout product, you’re welcome to nominate them all. Just be sure to select the most relevant category for each product, as category descriptions and supporting information may differ.
6. Can I promote my nomination and encourage people to vote?
Yes, and we highly recommend it.
Once nominated, you’re encouraged to share your entry across social media, email newsletters and any channels where your audience engages with you.
To support this, official nominees will receive a Mum Central Awards Nominee Badge along with access to a promotional asset kit to help drive awareness and voting.
7. Is there a cost involved?
- Nominating your favourite product or brand: Completely free
- Submitting an official entry for your business: Entry fees apply and are outlined in the self-nomination form
8. How does voting work?
Voting is free and open to the public. Each voter can submit one voting form and cast one vote per category. Voters can participate in as many or as few categories as they choose.
And yes, there’s a reward here too. Every voter automatically goes into the draw to win 1 of 3 $100 Kmart Gift Cards.
9. What do winners receive?
The top three entries in each category, Gold, Silver and Bronze, will receive:
- A permanent listing on the official Mum Central Awards Winners List
- A featured winner listing including product description, price, URL with a do-follow link, and product image featuring the award badge
All winners also receive the prestigious Mum Central Award Badge, which can be used across websites, marketing, packaging, PR and promotional materials.
Please refer to our 2026 Mum Central Award Terms & Conditions.
Ready to Nominate?
If you’re submitting an entry for your business, click the nomination button below to get started.
Once your nomination is submitted and approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your tax invoice and next steps.
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss nominations or query which categories you’d best fit.
The full list of shortlisted products and services by category will be published on 3 March 2026, marking the official launch of public voting.
So if you want to:
- Build brand awareness
- Reach Australian mums
- Leverage award status
- Drive trust and visibility
- Celebrate your standout products
This is your moment, and these are your awards.
Please submit your nomination, secure your exclusive rate and get ready for our biggest awards program yet.
Nominate now and let Australian mums decide.
2026 Is Your Year. Let’s Celebrate the Best in Parenting
The 2026 Mum Central Awards are more than recognition. They’re a celebration of innovation, care, creativity and the incredible brands supporting Australian families every single day.
With new categories, a bigger audience and expanded visibility, the 2026 awards will be our most exciting yet.
Get in early, secure your nomination and join us in showcasing the best of the best
When Aussie mums choose, the whole country listens.
And in 2026, they’ll be choosing you.
Nominate Your Product or Service Now!
