Standing out in front of around 100 digital leaders is no small task.

That was the challenge facing contestants at CMS Idol 2026, hosted during CMS Kickoff 26 in St. Pete, Florida, in the striking surroundings of The James Museum. The room was filled with architects, strategists, product owners, and practitioners. People who spend their days making hard decisions about platforms, governance, and delivery, and who are not easily swayed by surface-level demos.

CMS Idol puts the outcome in their hands. By the end of the session, the vote was clear. Kontent.ai took home the CMS Idol trophy for the second year running.

What helped them stand out this time was not novelty, but relevance.