A' Design Award opens nominations for 2026 information technology awards

A' Design Award & Competition has opened nominations for its 2026 Information Technologies Design Awards, with entries due Sept. 30, 2026 and results set for May 1, 2027. The competition targets software, cybersecurity, cloud, AI and other digital infrastructure projects and offers winners PR and marketing prizes.

Why it matters: - The competition spotlights technology products that shape digital infrastructure, business operations and security. - Winners can gain international visibility, media distribution and promotional support that may help with adoption and market reach. - The awards cover a broad range of IT work, from enterprise software to AI and cybersecurity.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition opened the call for entries for the 2026 A' International Information Technologies Design Awards. - The competition is open worldwide to IT professionals, software developers, technology innovators and related companies. - Eligible projects include information technology solutions, enterprise software and digital infrastructure projects developed within the last 10 years. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Results will be announced on May 1, 2027.

The details: - The awards use a two-phase process that starts with a complimentary preliminary evaluation. - Entries that pass the preliminary round can move to nomination, which carries a nominal fee. - Eligible participants include designers, computer engineers, database administrators, network architects, cybersecurity specialists, system analysts, IT consultants, IT project managers, data scientists, artificial intelligence experts, cloud computing specialists and R&D companies. - Entries are judged anonymously by an international jury of more than 300 academics, software engineers, IT specialists, cybersecurity experts, technology consultants and digital innovation professionals. - Evaluation is based on innovation, technical excellence, usability, reliability and design quality. - Subcategories include software applications, hardware devices, network systems, data storage solutions, cybersecurity tools, cloud services, artificial intelligence models and virtual reality interfaces. - Award description and category details are available here. - Participants can register here.

Between the lines: - The structure suggests the competition is aimed at both recognition and promotion, not just a trophy. - The large jury and anonymous judging are designed to position the awards as merit-based. - The eligibility window for work created in the last 10 years broadens participation beyond brand-new launches.

What's next: - Entrants can submit work for a preliminary score before moving to nomination. - Professional-edition laureates will receive the A' Design Prize, which includes PR, marketing and publicity tools. - Winners will receive a design excellence certificate, winner logo license, yearbook inclusion, exhibitions in Italy, a trophy and gala-night invitation. - Laureates will also get translations, entry to prime clubs and inclusion in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, Information Technologies Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Winners will receive an exclusive interview, a press release, a press kit with images and logos, and distribution to accredited press members and media partners. - Past winners are listed here.

The bottom line: - A' Design Award is using its 2026 information technology awards to recruit global entries and offer winners a packaged visibility boost alongside industry recognition.