HGTV Smart Home 2026 Winners Announced: Everything to Know

Entries to win the 2026 HGTV Smart Home are officially closed, and a lucky winner has been picked.

HGTV stars Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt were announced as the designers of the 2026 Smart Home back in March. In an exclusive interview with TV Insider, the 100 Day Dream Home stars revealed the unexpected challenge they faced during the project. “Funny enough, but the day that we did our final reveal and we were finishing touches, we got a cold snap in Florida,” Mika shared. “It was colder in Orlando than it was in Alaska that day.”

She added, “We had to be outside. We have this beautiful backyard area with a pool and all this outdoor entertainment. And of course, we have to be dressed like it’s summer, it’s Florida. And the film crew was bundled up in ski jackets, and we just had to suck it up and make it look like it was the warmest day ever.”

Brian, for his part, said that “the beautiful natural attractions of Central Florida” inspired his ad Mika’s design choices. “I know Orlando is known for all the theme park attractions, but we wanted to show what we really love about Florida,” he shared.

Scroll down to learn everything about HGTV’s 2026 Smart Home, including which lucky fan got the keys to it.

Where is the HGTV Smart Home 2026?

This year’s property is located in Orlando, Florida. HGTV’s website describes the home as “a resort‑inspired retreat where thoughtful tech meets bold, curated design in a home built for sunshine, style, and effortless living.”

 

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Who designed the HGTV Smart Home 2026?

Brian and Mika are the designers behind this year’s Smart Home. “I think my biggest hope for whoever wins the HGTV Smart Home is, I hope they invite us over,” Brian jokingly told TV Insider. Mika suggested that the winners could host a “housewarming party,” while Brian added, “And if they don’t invite us, we might just show up!”

Who won the HGTV Smart Home 2026?

Entries to win the Smart Home were open from April 21 to June 19. On August 13, People announced 77-year-old Karen Hiers from Jacksonville, Florida, as this year’s Smart Home winner. In addition to the Orlando home, Hiers will also receive $100,000 in cash.

Despite frequently entering to win HGTV giveaways, Hiers told HGTV.com that she initially thought the email confirming she won the Smart Home was a scam. After proving the message’s legitimacy with help from her son, Hiers realized her dream had finally come true.

Per the network’s website, Hiers worked as a substitute high school teacher and lives in Jacksonville with her husband of 55 years, Bill. The couple share two kids and are the grandparents of three and the great-grandparents of one. In addition to watching lots of HGTV, the pair enjoy gardening, refurbishing furniture, and taking care of their three kittens.

Are there photos of the HGTV Smart Home 2026?

HGTV released several snaps of the Smart Home via social media, showing rooms like the lounge and the kitchen, and amenities such as the pool, outdoor putting green, game room, and more.

“I think I would probably hang out in that game lounge pretty much most of the day,” Mika told TV Insider. “I did kind of love that we did convert one of the garage spaces to this movie lounge area, and we color-drenched it in a really beautiful blue. I think I like that because it was more of a cozy space. So, I always like to design about how I want to feel in the room, and that would be my favorite spot.”

Brian shared, “We also had this really cool glass inside the movie lounge where, with the flick of a light switch, it became completely private. And then, you turn the light switch again, and it’s regular glass. So yeah, we really wanted to focus not just on smart technology in this house, but also [a] smart layout, smart design.”

 

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When will the HGTV Smart Home 2026 special air?

Brian and Mika showed fans how they created this year’s Smart Home during the one-hour HGTV Smart Home 2026 special specil, which aired on HGTV on April 24. (The special is currently available to stream on HBO Max and Discovery+.)

In the special, Brian and Mika revealed the completed Smart Home to their daughter, Jade, who also lent her design skills to the home’s guest bedroom/teen room. “Nobody knows how to design a teenage space more than a teenager,” Mika told TV Insider. “And I think it was really cool how she incorporated some of her personal flair, and then she got to see the whole room come together. So, it’s a special moment. It’s something we’ll look back on and always kind of have as part of our family memories.”