Two India-origin apps among finalists for 2026 Apple Design Awards
New Delhi, May 19
US-headquartered tech giant Apple has named two India-origin apps -- Katha Room and Guitar Wiz -- among the finalists for the 2026 Apple Design Awards, recognising innovation, inclusivity and creativity in app and game design across its global developer community, the company said on Tuesday.
Apple announced 36 finalists across six categories for this year's awards, which celebrate outstanding design experiences and technical achievement by developers on Apple platforms.
Among the India-origin finalists is Katha Room, a bedtime stories app inspired by Indian folklore that has been shortlisted in the Social Impact category.
Apple described Katha Room as "a bedtime stories app from India with rich, colorful art and a commitment to cultural representation".
The app combines immersive sound design with visuals inspired by the traditional Gond art form to bring Indian folk stories to life.
The second India-origin finalist is Guitar Wiz, an all-in-one toolkit for guitarists developed by solo Indian developer Bijoy Thangaraj using SwiftUI.
The app has been recognised in the Inclusivity category for its accessibility-focused features, including robust VoiceOver integration, Dynamic Type support and Increased Contrast options.
According to Apple, Guitar Wiz enables people of all abilities to play with greater autonomy by providing spoken guidance on pitch, chords and finger placements.
The Apple Design Awards annually honour apps and games across categories including Delight and Fun, Inclusivity, Innovation, Interaction, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics.
This year's finalists include apps and games built for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro platforms.
Apple said the awards recognise developers who have demonstrated "innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement" through exceptional user experiences.
The finalists and their apps are available on the Apple Developer website and the App Store.
Additionally, India-origin apps have featured among Apple Design Award finalists in previous years.
In 2025, India-linked finalists included Lumy, Denim, and EVOLVE, while meditation app Meditate was shortlisted in 2024.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see accessibility being taken seriously. Guitar Wiz with VoiceOver integration is a game-changer for visually impaired musicians. As someone who works in assistive tech, I'm genuinely impressed by the thought put into this.
Kahan gaya Indian talent? So nice to see Katha Room getting recognition. My kids used to love these stories from grandparents—now they have an app too! Hope more developers build on our cultural heritage. 🎉
Katha Room sounds amazing—Gond art mixed with bedtime stories is a brilliant idea. But I hope Apple also recognizes more Indian apps in the Innovation category next time. We've got so many startups doing incredible work beyond just cultural apps!
Guitar Wiz being developed by a solo Indian dev using SwiftUI? That's proper hustle 💪 This shows that with Apple's tools, even individual developers can build world-class accessible apps. Respect to Bijoy Thangaraj for showing what's possible.
Happy that Indian apps are getting global limelight. But honestly, I wish Apple would consider more Indian developers for the main awards, not just finalists. We have such innovative apps in education and healthcare—hope 2027 is different! ✨
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