2026 Winners - Gibson Games
Winning a Gift of the Year Award is a significant achievement, but taking home three awards in a single year is something truly special. In this winner interview, Gibsons shares the stories behind its award-winning products, reflects on more than 100 years of bringing people together through puzzles and games, and discusses what this recognition means for the future of the brand.
From an innovative Puzzle Advent Calendar to a stunning National Trust collaboration and a beautifully designed range of Art File games, discover how creativity, quality and heritage continue to drive one of the UK's most loved puzzle and games companies.
How does it feel to be a Gift of the Year winner?
It’s an unbelievable honour to have won across three categories at this year’s Gift of the Year Awards. To be recognised in this way is incredibly rewarding, and it's a real testament to the creativity, passion and dedication of our team at Gibsons.
What does this recognition mean for your business?
This recognition reflects all of the incredibly hard work our team has put into bringing unique and meaningful gifts to market that bring joy to our customers. It also reinforces our commitment to innovation and quality, and gives us even more motivation to continue creating products that surprise, delight and bring people together.
Advent Calendar – Festive Gifts Category
• Tell us the story behind your winning product. This is the fifth instalment of our annual Puzzle Advent Calendar, and we wanted to make this year's edition the most immersive yet. Combining daily puzzle challenges with beautiful artwork from The Art File, we created an advent experience that gives puzzle lovers something to look forward to every day in December.
• What makes it stand out in the market? It's a fresh, hobbyist take on the traditional advent calendar. The premium book-style packaging, intricate gold detailing and daily puzzle format create a unique countdown experience that's designed to be treasured.
National Trust Collection – Heritage Gifts Category
• Tell us the story behind your winning product. The National Trust Puzzle Collection is the first instalment in an exciting new collaboration, celebrating some of the UK's most loved landscapes and historic places. We wanted to create a puzzle collection that connects puzzlers to the beauty of these iconic locations across the country, and with the help of puzzle artists Val Goldfinch, Claire Comerford and Lauren Radley, we have done just that.
• What makes it stand out in the market? The collection combines stunning imagery with the trusted heritage of the National Trust, creating puzzles that are both enjoyable to complete and beautifully giftable. It's a collection that appeals to puzzle enthusiasts, National Trust supporters and anyone who appreciates Britain's natural and cultural treasures.
Art File Games – Games & Puzzles Category
• Tell us the story behind your winning product. Following the success of our puzzle collaborations with The Art File, we saw an opportunity to bring their distinctive artwork into a range of classic games. The result is a collection that blends engaging gameplay with beautiful, illustrative design.
• What makes it stand out in the market? The combination of eye-catching artwork and familiar gameplay makes the range feel genuinely different. They're games people want to leave out to display on the table as much as they want to play them.
How did your business begin?
We're a family business with over 100 years of history in making games and jigsaw puzzles. Across four generations, we've remained focused on creating joy through products that bring people together.
What has been your biggest milestone so far?
Receiving the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainability was a hugely proud moment for our team. It's an incredible recognition of both our heritage and the innovation that continues to drive the business forward.
What's next for your brand?
We're excited to continue growing our product ranges, developing new licensing partnerships and bringing even more innovative puzzles and games to market. Most importantly, we'll keep creating products that bring people together and make great gifts.
You can find out more from Gibsons here - https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/
