The one kitchen trend we didn't see coming for 2026? Ice cubes.

There’s nothing quite like a crispy soda over chewable nugget ice or a craft cocktail on a flawless crystal-clear sphere. Our love of ice isn’t new—but the technology behind it is evolving fast. As a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, my team and I have spent the past few years testing everything from nugget ice machines to clear cocktail ice makers and upgraded ice cube trays to find out what’s worth the hype.

My team and I just returned from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, where brands preview innovations slated for 2026 and beyond, and one trend was impossible to miss: Appliances are doubling down on America’s obsession with perfectly curated ice.

Nugget ice isn’t going anywhere

Nugget ice has become very popular in the last few years. It’s a pellet-shaped ice that fills every curve of your glass for even chilling and prevents quick dilution, because its porous texture absorbs your drink’s flavor, unlike traditional ice that simply melts.

One standout large appliance at the show was Whirlpool’s first refrigerator with an integrated nugget ice maker—the first of its kind I’ve seen from any brand. I filled my glass with small, crunchable nuggets straight from the door dispenser, and they were just as satisfying as ice from a countertop machine or even Sonic.

GE Profile—known for its popular nugget ice makers, including the Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker and others we’ve tested in recent years—is also debuting the Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker and the Opal Mini Pro. The new models are more compact than the original and may launch in fun, eye-catching colorways. At the show, attendees could even vote on future finishes via tablet—I, of course, chose purple. Honestly, what college student wouldn’t want one in their dorm? Or, for that matter, me in my apartment?

GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Makers on display in a variety of colorways.

One type of ice is no longer enough

I noticed a few brands introduced refrigerators with more than one ice option. GE Profile showcased its new side-by-side refrigerator lineup, which will be released in October 2026. These models introduce CustomSize Ice, a new way for you to choose from eight ice sizes in GE’s SmartHQ app. At the show, GE displayed all eight sizes, which could come in handy depending on which beverages you want to pair them with—GE recommends the smallest size for gently cooling down white wine, the medium size for adding to water bottles, and the largest for keeping an old-fashioned cocktail cool.

While LG highlighted new ice technology in its LG Signature and SKS refrigerators, the standout upgrade is the ability to make mini craft ice alongside the existing craft ice, plus cubed and crushed ice. The freezers will also include AI Ice Pro, which automatically boosts production based on your usage patterns—especially helpful if your household goes through more ice on the weekends and needs the freezer to keep up.

Members of the GE team displaying the eight different sizes of ice cubes available.

Filtered water is a key ingredient

Even water filtration companies emphasized the importance of filtered water for making high-quality ice cubes. Moen, for example, hosted a mocktail demo to show how filtration enhances not just the drink itself, but the water used to make the craft ice as well. When I received a glass with an ice cube made from filtered water, I was struck by its clarity—and how slowly it melted.

You can see here how crystal-clear the craft ice is when it’s made with filtered water.

My verdict? The ice trend is just getting started

The popularity of ice-cold beverages isn’t going anywhere. Once reserved for coffee shops, restaurants and bars, craft and nugget ice are now becoming staples at home as appliances lean into the obsession. The trend likely mirrors our year-round iced coffee habits and the continued rise of craft cocktails, both at restaurants and in home bars. I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more innovation in the coming year. Tumblers that make their own ice? Filtration systems designed specifically for iced beverages? Stay tuned.