Winners to Be Revealed August 3 During the Inaugural STIMULATE+Awards Presented by Nu Sensuelle Ceremony at Nashville’s Historic Woolworth Theatre
DENVER, CO (July 13, 2026) — STIMULATE, the premier event where sexual wellness, retail, education and healthcare unite, is proud to announce the official finalists for the inaugural STIMULATE+Awards presented by Nu Sensuelle. Recognizing exceptional products, visionary leaders, educators, retailers, healthcare professionals and brands, the awards celebrate those shaping the future of sexual wellness through innovation, education, inclusivity and meaningful impact.
The 2026 finalists represent excellence across 20 award categories spanning product innovation, leadership, retail, education, medical advancement, business services and collaboration. Winners will be announced during a special awards celebration on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Nashville’s iconic Woolworth Theatre as part of STIMULATE 2026.
“The response to our inaugural STIMULATE+Awards exceeded every expectation,” said Nicole Leinbach Hoffman, Founder of STIMULATE. “The quality of submissions showcased just how much innovation, passion and purpose exists throughout the sexual wellness industry. These finalists represent organizations and individuals who are not only creating outstanding products and businesses, but who are also advancing conversations, education and accessibility for consumers around the world. We are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements.”
Unlike many traditional popularity-based awards, the STIMULATE+Awards are evaluated through an independent judging process designed to recognize true excellence. Every submission is thoughtfully reviewed by a distinguished panel of five respected professionals representing clinical expertise, sex therapy, education and product evaluation. Judges carefully assess each entry through a comprehensive evaluation process to identify up to five finalists in every category, with the exception to Pleasure Product of the Year, which has eight total nominees, due to ties in the judging category. Additionally, please note that STIMULATE’s team has no influence on the award nominees.
The 2026 STIMULATE+Awards judging panel includes:
- Dr. Alix Agar, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist
- Dr. Shannon Chavez, Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist
- Dan Powers, Creator of Pleasure Engineering and Co-Founder of The Pleasure Movement
- Elizabeth Wood, Somatic Sex Educator, Author and Co-Founder of The Pleasure Movement
- Dr. Emma Smith, Licensed Psychotherapist and Certified Sex Therapist
Collectively, this year’s finalists reflect the remarkable evolution of today’s sexual wellness industry—from science-backed healthcare innovations and body-safe product development to inclusive education, retail excellence, relationship wellness and emerging technologies.
Drumroll, please! Our inaugural STIMULATE+Awards nominees are:
🏆 Best Product for First-Time Exploration
- Anal Dilator Glass Set | Future Method
- Petal Pleaser | Euforia
- Anal Training & Education 5-piece Complete Set | b-Vibe
- Venture Collection | Dr. Tush
- Vibrating Bullet | plusOne
🏆 Best Product for Mature Intimate Care
- plusOne Vaginal Quench Gel | plusOne
- Nubii Chloe Vibe | Nu Sensuelle
- Aquafit PRÉ Intimate Gel-Stick | Aquafit
- Simply Timeless Hybrid | Wicked Sensual Care
- Cooch Ball | Bloom Better
🏆 Body-Safe + Wellness Innovation Award
- Velvet Touch™ Liquid Silicone Collection | Nu Sensuelle
- GoBlo | OOM Labs
- Dive Submersible Rechargeable Vibrating Massager | Le Wand
- Pro13 Home Collect STI Panel | ProDx Health
- Infection Protection – BV & Yeast | FemiClear Venture Life
🏆 Brand Leader of the Year
- Tiara Trudeau-Gullotta, CSE | Sultry Company
- Keren Mordoch Rachum | Pliia.com
- Cassie Pendleton + jessica drake (“Cassica”) | Wicked Sensual Care
- Alicia Sinclair | COTR, Inc.
- Brent Aldon | Aneros
🏆 Business Services Partner of the Year
- BDI Fulfillment
- Essence Protection
- Holiday Products
- All Point Retail
- Retail Smart Guys
🏆 Collaboration of the Year
- plusOne for the Cosmopolitan x plusOne “All Yours” Collaboration
- Cooch Ball + Oboo
🏆 Educational Platform of the Year
- Sultry Company
- Aneros
- Elevate U | Eldorado Trading
- Success Systems
🏆 Emerging Leader of the Year
- Kyrie Hara | TENGA
- Colette Courtion | Joylux
- Thao Luu-Brinberg | Nu Sensuelle
- Holly Schaffner | Sweetly Sassy Toys & The Pleasure Professor
- Robert Stevenson | Aneros
🏆 Emerging Product of the Year
- Nitro Motor Collection: Nikita, Lynx & Envy | Nu Sensuelle
- Women’s Lib | Women’s Lib
- Popstar Performance Boosters | Popstar Labs
- Le Wand Dive Submersible Rechargeable Vibrating Massager | Le Wand
- Vellvii Dox | Vellvii
🏆 Head-to-Toe Wellness Product of the Year
- Cooch Ball | Bloom Better
- Skins 12ml Sampler Tubes | Skins Sexual Health by Creative Conceptions
- Bloom Play Oil | Vira
- Glow Warming Massager | Bloomi
- Home-Collect Panels | ProDx Health
🏆 Inclusive Excellence Award
- Matty Hennessey | Eversense Toys
- Virtue
🏆 Independent Seller of the Year
- Cassidy Bybee
- Sabrina Davis
- Maranda White
- Nikki Hughes
- Amy Cook
🏆 Medical Professional of the Year
- Dr. Diane Mueller | My Libido Doc
- Razia Jayman-Aristide | Oya Health
- Dr. Evan Goldstein | Future Method + Bespoke Surgical
- Dr. Joshua Gonzalez | Popstar Labs
- Dr. Andreas Kogelnik | ProDx Health
🏆 Podcast Excellence Award
- Taboo to Truth: Life & Sex After 50 | Karen Bigman
- Sex Party with Dustin Rybka
- Law of Cassidy | Cassidy Bybee
- Talk Sex with Annette
- Please Me! Podcast with Eve
🏆 Purpose-Driven Innovation Award
- Pliia Love Mat | Pliia
- Anal Single-Use Douche Kit™ | Future Method
- SWMR Fertility for Men | SWMR Fertility & Popstar Labs
- Play Safe Pro | ProDx Health
- Simply Timeless Aqua | Wicked Sensual Care
🏆 Retail Operator of the Year
- Mariel Clay | Pleasures Romance Boutique
- Kathryn Guy | TAF Distributing (Adam & Eve Stores)
- Josh Porter | Romantix
- Tiara Trudeau-Gullotta, CSE | Sultry Company
- Signe Jarvis | Romeo + Juliet’s
🏆 Sex Educator / Therapist of the Year
- Susan Bratton | Better Lover
- Nadège | Pleasure Science
- Dirty Lola
- Tara Suwinyattichaiporn | Luvbites by Dr. Tara
- jessica drake | Wicked Sensual Care
🏆 Technology + Innovation Award
- Rose Gold vFit | Joylux
- The Techring | FIRMTECH, Inc.
🏆 Pleasure Product of the Year
- Pleasure Pods | Euforia
- Remote Control Rimming P-Spot Plug | b-Vibe
- Monogamy Game | Creative Conceptions
- Nikita | Nu Sensuelle
- plusOne Vibrating Super Bullet | plusOne
- Splash Blanket
- Jo Stroker Lube | CC Wellness
🏆 Big O(vation) Award by Nu Sensuelle
- Ashlin Hadden | Essence Protection
- Dr. Evan Goldstein | Future Method
- Jana Danielson | Bloom Better
- Joan Price | Joan Price
- Kraig McGee III | TAF Distributing (Adam & Eve Stores)
The STIMULATE+Awards will take place during STIMULATE 2026, held August 3+4, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. All registered attendees of STIMULATE are invited to attend, and host Laura Desiree will bring the show to life as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies.
For more information, finalist details or media inquiries, visit www.STIMULATEtheShow.com or contact stimulate@retailminded.com.
About STIMULATE
STIMULATE is the premier event bringing together sexual wellness brands, retailers, healthcare professionals, educators, independent sellers and industry innovators. Through dynamic education, meaningful networking and business-building opportunities, STIMULATE serves as a catalyst for advancing sexual wellness while strengthening the businesses and professionals shaping its future. Founded in 2023, STIMULATE continues to champion innovation, connection and education across the global sexual wellness industry.
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