The heat is on: Search begins for the 2026 Hottest Thing Made in Arizona

Manufacturer of the Year nominations also open as annual competitions celebrate Arizona-made innovation and industry excellence

PHOENIX—Arizona manufacturing is having a big year, and some of the state’s most impressive products are about to go head-to-head.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Arizona Manufacturers Council today opened nominations for the fourth annual Hottest Thing Made in Arizona, a statewide contest celebrating the products, people, and ingenuity behind Arizona’s manufacturing sector. This year’s competition is presented by Grand Canyon University.

Open to manufacturers of every size, from global companies and growing small businesses to independent makers and artisan producers, the competition invites Arizonans to nominate products manufactured state.

“Arizona manufacturers are building everything from advanced aerospace and defense systems to semiconductors, lifesaving medical devices, and everyday products that shape how we live and work,” said Grace Appelbe, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council. “This competition is our chance to show people just how much is being made here, recognize the skilled teams behind those products and have a little fun deciding which one deserves the title of Hottest Thing Made in Arizona.”

The competition returns amid continued momentum for Arizona manufacturing. TSMC recently announced an additional $100 billion investment in its Phoenix operations, bringing its planned Arizona investment to $265 billion and expanding its plans to include six semiconductor fabs, two advanced packaging facilities and an R&D center.

Amkor Technology’s planned advanced semiconductor packaging and test campus in Peoria was also recently named the Number One Deal in North America by Site Selection magazine. The company’s planned $7 billion investment is expected to create as many as 3,000 high-wage jobs.

Those investments are part of a much broader manufacturing sector producing everything from aerospace and defense systems to medical devices, food products, transportation equipment, and consumer goods.

Past winners of the Hottest Thing Made in Arizona include:

• 2023: Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter
• 2024: Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor
• 2025: Honeywell Aerospace 131-9 auxiliary power unit

Nominations are also now open for the 2026 Arizona Manufacturer of the Year Awards, which recognize outstanding manufacturers, leaders and achievements in the following categories:

• Small Manufacturer of the Year
• Medium Manufacturer of the Year
• Large Manufacturer of the Year
• Excellence in Innovation
• Excellence in Sustainability
• Champion of the Year
• Arizona Success Story

“These awards recognize the companies and people translating Arizona’s manufacturing momentum into real products, high-quality jobs and stronger communities,” Appelbe said. “Whether they employ thousands of people or a few dozen, Arizona manufacturers are solving difficult problems, investing in their teams and proving that our state can compete with anyone.”

The Hottest Thing Made in Arizona competition will unfold through a series of public voting rounds, giving manufacturers, employees, customers, and communities an opportunity to rally behind their favorite Arizona-made products.

The winners of the Hottest Thing Made in Arizona competition and Arizona Manufacturer of the Year Awards will be announced at the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon on October 13 as part of the AMC’s Manufacturing Month programming.

Learn more about Grand Canyon University’s work to support Arizona’s advanced manufacturing and semiconductor workforce.

Nominations are now open for both competitions. Submit a product or manufacturer at HottestThingAZ.com.