US-based tech giant Apple has named two India-origin apps, Katha Room and Guitar Wiz, among the finalists for the 2026 Apple Design Awards, recognising excellence in innovation, inclusivity, and app design across its global developer community.
Apple on Tuesday announced 36 finalists across six award categories, celebrating exceptional design experiences and technical achievement by developers building for Apple platforms.
Among the shortlisted apps is Katha Room, a bedtime storytelling app inspired by Indian folklore, selected for the Social Impact category.
Apple described Katha Room as ‘a bedtime stories app from India with rich, colourful art and a commitment to cultural representation’.
The app blends immersive sound design with visuals inspired by the traditional Gond art form to recreate Indian folk tales for young audiences.
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 shortlisted in the Inclusivity category for its accessibility-first features, including VoiceOver integration, Dynamic Type support, and Increased Contrast options.
According to Apple, Guitar Wiz helps people of all abilities play independently through spoken guidance on pitch, chords, and finger placements.
The Apple Design Awards annually recognise outstanding apps and games across categories such as Delight and Fun, Inclusivity, Innovation, Interaction, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics.
This year’s finalists include apps and games designed for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple said the awards honour developers who demonstrate ‘innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement’ through exceptional user experiences.
India-origin apps have also featured among finalists in recent years, including Lumy, Denim, and EVOLVE in 2025, and meditation app Meditate in 2024.
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