KBIS 2026 was full of startups. Most of the new products on display at the sprawling home and kitchen show involved large appliances. Top brands, including Samsung, LG, GE and Sharp, were on hand to give a glimpse into the future of home technology.
We were there to see it all up close and talk to product managers, engineers and product representatives about all the new features of the big machines coming in 2026.
The latest refrigerators, ovens, washing dishes again washing systems were well represented on the show floor, and the new products on display weren’t just fancy — they were practical enhancements designed to make home life a little easier.
Here are 10 standouts from KBIS 2026.
1. Golden Heater, a new technology for fast cooking
Sharp launched its Celebrity stove with industry-first cooking technology.
It’s not every year that we discover a new type of cooking technology. Sharp’s new Celerity oven it combines “Golden Heater” technology that combines microwave, true convection and infrared heat to cook food three times faster than a conventional oven. We tasted cookies that were baked in just 9 minutes — something that would normally take 15. What is the result? They were as beautiful as Grandma’s.
2. Refrigerator barcode scanner for easy grocery list making
An active built-in scanner helps track groceries as you go down.
This technology was early presented at CES but GE Profile was on hand at KBIS to demonstrate its grocery barcode scanning refrigerator.
The smart fridge has a small scanner on the front door that allows you to scan the groceries as you walk down. From there, you can add them to a list on your phone or buy directly through the product’s Instacart integration.
3. Oven donation detectors
Several of the ovens shown on KBIS include doneness detectors that let you know when food is browning, so you don’t overcook.
Oven manufacturers have been incorporating smarts, too. Ovens have had cameras for a while, but new algorithms are learning to use them better. The doneness detectors, which monitor food as it cooks for signs of browning and warn you when it’s approaching, are designed to prevent burning and overcooking.
KitchenAid, Sharp and LG are just a few of the kitchen brands that are including a donation detector in their upcoming ovens.
4. Bottle and straw washers
Midea washing machine offers reusable lawn washers.
One of our favorite upgrades was Midea’s new lawn washing station, which is slated for release this year. Lawns are notoriously tricky to clean, but this side-by-side pulls water directly from your reusable plants, removing dirt, mold and other build-up.
5. Built-in basket to store your sweaters
This simple addition to the washing machine drum protects your sweaters and delicates from abuse.
Whirlpool was an industry first built-in soft basket. A simple design that allows you to wash soft sweaters and shirts with a normal load.
The basket keeps those items free of the harsh pumping that occurs in a regular wash. It’s also great for keeping socks together, so matching is easy when it’s time to roll up.
6. A nugget ice maker for the refrigerator
The new Whirlpool refrigerator makes nugget ice in the front and classic cubes in the bottom freezer.
With all the enthusiasm for nugget ice, it’s hard to believe that we’re now getting our first fridge with a built-in nugget ice maker. Whirlpool’s latest release dispenses crunchy, chewy ice from the front dispenser and regular cubed ice from the bottom freezer.
7. Washing machine UV cleaning
UV cleaning enables the machine to fight germs even when washing with cold water.
While this impressed me, Whirlpool introduced the world’s first UV washing machine, which blasts clothes during a regular wash to kill germs.
The point of UV cleaning is to fight germs without using hot water, which can be hard on fabrics over time.
8. Built-in sous vide tank
The SKS rich oven has a built-in sous vide tank.
Sous vide cooking has been embraced by home cooks and professional chefs alike. A low and slow water bath usually requires special equipment, but the new rich SKS stove has a sous vide tank built into the cooking area.
Getting caught? The stove, with gas and induction burners and a host of other innovative features, costs a $12,000 in cash.
9. Lower dishwasher that folds up for easy loading
A dishwasher with a flip-out bottom rack for easy loading? Yes, please.
Kenmore’s soon-to-be-released dishwasher has a straightforward update that makes loading and unloading a breeze. The bottom rack slides out and rotates to the same height as the top rack. It is sure to be a welcome innovation for those with back problems or mobility issues.
10. Smart AutoFill water products
Smart auto-fill lets you set the glass or bottle down and walk away while it fills.
Refrigerators are getting smarter and that includes water spouts. We’ve seen many refrigerators, including those from GE and KitchenAid, have smart auto-fill technology that uses cameras or weight sensors to determine how much water to fill in a bottle or glass. When it is 90% full, the water stops, allowing you to walk.
