Award Programs Directory · 2026

54+ Business Award Programs
Organized for 2026

Every major award program your company could enter, grouped by category. Deadlines, fees, and eligibility at a glance — so you know exactly where to focus.

54+ Award programs tracked
16 Categories
23+ Free to enter
26 Top-tier programs
Jump to category
🏆

General Business Awards

Broad-based recognition for business achievement, leadership, and impact across all industries.

4 programs

American Business Awards (Stevie)

Top Tier

Stevie Awards

Premier business awards in the US recognizing achievements across all industries.

Deadline February (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$650
Eligibility North America
View program →

International Business Awards (Stevie)

Top Tier

Stevie Awards

The world's premier business awards program, open to all organizations worldwide.

Deadline April (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$850
Eligibility global
View program →

Globee Awards - Business

Top Tier

Globee Awards

Recognizes outstanding achievements in business, innovation, and leadership globally.

Deadline Multiple deadlines per year
Entry Fee $295-$595
Eligibility global
View program →

Best in Biz Awards

Mid

Best in Biz Awards

The only independent business awards judged by prominent members of the press and analysts.

Deadline June (annually)
Entry Fee $175-$595
Eligibility North America
View program →

Tech & AI Awards

Awards for technology companies, software products, and AI/ML innovation.

6 programs

Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Top Tier

Deloitte

Ranks the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America based on revenue growth.

Deadline August (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

CES Innovation Awards

Top Tier

Consumer Technology Association

Honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.

Deadline September (annually)
Entry Fee $350-$500
Eligibility global
View program →

SIIA CODiE Awards

High

Software & Information Industry Association

Premier awards for software, education technology, and digital content products.

Deadline January (annually)
Entry Fee $300-$600
Eligibility global
View program →

AI Breakthrough Awards

High

AI Breakthrough

Recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in AI and machine learning.

Deadline April (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

Gartner Magic Quadrant Recognition

Top Tier

Gartner

Not an award per se, but the most influential analyst recognition for tech companies.

Deadline Varies by category
Entry Fee Free (analyst evaluation)
Eligibility global
View program →

G2 Best Software Awards

High

G2

Based on authentic user reviews — the people's choice for best software.

Deadline Based on quarterly review data
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →
📈

Fast 500 & Growth Programs

Revenue-growth rankings and fastest-growing company lists.

4 programs

Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies

Top Tier

Inc. Magazine

Annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America.

Deadline March (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

Growth 500 (Canada)

High

Canadian Business / Maclean's

Canada's fastest-growing companies ranked by five-year revenue growth.

Deadline January (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility Canada
View program →

Financial Times Americas' Fastest Growing Companies

Top Tier

Financial Times

Ranking of companies in the Americas with the highest revenue growth over three years.

Deadline November (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

SmartCEO Future 50 Awards

Mid

SmartCEO

Recognizes the 50 fastest-growing mid-size companies in various metro regions.

Deadline Varies by region
Entry Fee $100-$300
Eligibility North America
View program →
🚀

Startup Awards

Competition and recognition programs for early-stage and emerging companies.

3 programs

TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield

Top Tier

TechCrunch

The world's preeminent startup competition where early-stage startups compete on stage.

Deadline June (annually)
Entry Fee Free (competitive application)
Eligibility global
View program →

Y Combinator Top Companies

Top Tier

Y Combinator

Annual ranking of the top YC-backed companies by valuation and impact.

Deadline Ongoing (YC batches)
Entry Fee N/A (YC-backed only)
Eligibility global
View program →

North American Startup Awards

Mid

Global Startup Awards

Regional competition recognizing the most innovative startups across North America.

Deadline September (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →
🌟

Workplace & Culture Awards

Employer recognition based on employee experience, culture, and engagement.

6 programs

Stevie Awards for Great Employers

Top Tier

Stevie Awards

Honors the world's best employers and the HR teams and professionals behind them.

Deadline May (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$650
Eligibility global
View program →

Great Place to Work Certification

Top Tier

Great Place to Work Institute

The global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership.

Deadline Rolling applications
Entry Fee $995-$3,500+
Eligibility global
View program →

Inc. Best Workplaces

Top Tier

Inc. Magazine

Annual list of companies that have created exceptional workplaces and cultures.

Deadline November (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

Fortune Best Companies to Work For

Top Tier

Fortune / Great Place to Work

The definitive ranking of America's best employers, based on employee surveys.

Deadline Varies by list
Entry Fee Via GPTW certification
Eligibility North America
View program →

Glassdoor Best Places to Work

Top Tier

Glassdoor

Based entirely on employee feedback — the most authentic workplace award.

Deadline Ongoing (based on reviews)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

Top Workplaces (Energage)

High

Energage / USA Today

Research-backed employer recognition based solely on employee feedback surveys.

Deadline Rolling (regional deadlines)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →
👥

HR & Talent Awards

Recognition for HR strategy, talent acquisition, and people programs.

2 programs

Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards

High

Brandon Hall Group

The gold standard for excellence in HCM including learning, talent, and leadership.

Deadline January-April (varies by category)
Entry Fee $595-$795
Eligibility global
View program →

SHRM Excellence in HR Awards

High

SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

Recognizes organizations that show innovation and best practices in HR.

Deadline Varies by program
Entry Fee $150-$500
Eligibility North America
View program →
🤝

Diversity & Inclusion

Awards for DEI programs, equitable practices, and inclusive workplace culture.

2 programs

DiversityInc Top 50

Top Tier

DiversityInc

Data-driven ranking of America's top companies for diversity and inclusion.

Deadline October (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+

High

Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Corporate Equality Index benchmarking LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace policies.

Deadline August (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →
💡

Leadership & Entrepreneur

Recognition for founders, CEOs, and executive leadership.

2 programs

EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Top Tier

Ernst & Young

The world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.

Deadline February (annually)
Entry Fee Free (nomination)
Eligibility North America
View program →

Forbes 30 Under 30

Top Tier

Forbes

Highlights young leaders and entrepreneurs shaping industries across 20 categories.

Deadline June (annually)
Entry Fee Free (nomination)
Eligibility North America
View program →
📣

Marketing & PR Awards

Creative and communications excellence across campaigns, content, and media.

6 programs

PRSA Silver Anvil Awards

Top Tier

Public Relations Society of America

The highest honor in public relations, recognizing the best PR campaigns.

Deadline January (annually)
Entry Fee $400-$700
Eligibility North America
View program →

Content Marketing Awards

High

Content Marketing Institute

The largest content marketing awards program, recognizing outstanding content strategies.

Deadline March (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$500
Eligibility global
View program →

MUSE Creative Awards

Mid

International Awards Associate

Recognizes creative professionals who inspire through talent and vision.

Deadline April (annually)
Entry Fee $150-$350
Eligibility global
View program →

Communicator Awards

Mid

Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts

One of the largest awards honoring creative excellence for communications work.

Deadline June (annually)
Entry Fee $150-$350
Eligibility global
View program →

Telly Awards

Mid

Telly Awards

Premier award honoring video and television content across all screens.

Deadline March (annually)
Entry Fee $200-$425
Eligibility global
View program →

Shorty Awards

High

Shorty Awards

Honors the best of social media, recognizing brands and creators making an impact.

Deadline February (annually)
Entry Fee $200-$400
Eligibility global
View program →

Customer Service Awards

Recognition for service quality, NPS, and customer experience.

2 programs

Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service

Top Tier

Stevie Awards

Recognizes the achievements of contact center, customer service, and sales professionals.

Deadline October (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$650
Eligibility global
View program →

J.D. Power Customer Service Excellence

Top Tier

J.D. Power

Data-driven certification for companies delivering superior customer service.

Deadline Rolling applications
Entry Fee Custom pricing
Eligibility North America
View program →
🌿

Sustainability & CSR

ESG performance, B Corp certification, and corporate responsibility recognition.

3 programs

B Corp Certification

Top Tier

B Lab

Certifies companies meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance.

Deadline Rolling applications
Entry Fee $500-$50,000 (based on revenue)
Eligibility global
View program →

Corporate Responsibility Magazine 100 Best

High

Corporate Responsibility Magazine

Ranks the 100 most responsible public companies based on ESG performance.

Deadline Data-driven (no application)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility North America
View program →

Sustainable Business Awards

Mid

World Sustainability Foundation

Recognizes companies driving sustainable practices in business operations.

Deadline September (annually)
Entry Fee $200-$500
Eligibility global
View program →
🔬

Innovation Awards

Honors for disruptive thinking, R&D breakthroughs, and transformative business models.

2 programs

Globee Awards - Disruptor

High

Globee Awards

Celebrates organizations and individuals who disrupt industries with innovation.

Deadline Quarterly deadlines
Entry Fee $295-$495
Eligibility global
View program →

Fast Company Most Innovative Companies

Top Tier

Fast Company

Annual ranking of the businesses making the most profound impact on industry and culture.

Deadline October (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →
🎨

Design Awards

Product design, UX, and visual communication excellence.

2 programs

Red Dot Design Award

Top Tier

Red Dot

One of the world's largest design competitions, honoring product and communication design.

Deadline Multiple (by category)
Entry Fee $400-$2,000
Eligibility global
View program →

iF Design Award

Top Tier

iF International Forum Design

World-renowned seal of design excellence since 1954.

Deadline October (annually)
Entry Fee $350-$1,500
Eligibility global
View program →
🌐

Digital & Web Awards

Excellence on the Internet — websites, apps, and digital content.

1 program

Webby Awards

Top Tier

International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences

Leading international awards honoring excellence on the Internet.

Deadline January (annually)
Entry Fee $250-$400
Eligibility global
View program →
🔧

Industry-Specific Awards

FinTech, MedTech, EdTech, HR Tech, MarTech, and cybersecurity recognition.

7 programs

FinTech Breakthrough Awards

High

FinTech Breakthrough

Recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in financial technology.

Deadline January (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

MedTech Breakthrough Awards

High

MedTech Breakthrough

Honors companies and solutions in health and medical technology.

Deadline April (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

EdTech Breakthrough Awards

High

EdTech Breakthrough

Recognizes the top education technology companies and products worldwide.

Deadline March (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

MarTech Breakthrough Awards

High

MarTech Breakthrough

Honors companies and solutions driving innovation in marketing technology.

Deadline April (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

HR Tech Awards

High

Lighthouse Research & Advisory

Recognizes the best HR technology companies in core HR, talent acquisition, and more.

Deadline February (annually)
Entry Fee $200-$400
Eligibility global
View program →

Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

High

Cybersecurity Insiders

Recognizes companies, products, and individuals that demonstrate excellence in cybersecurity.

Deadline November (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility global
View program →

Ernst & Young Tax Innovation Award

Mid

Ernst & Young

Recognizes organizations with innovative approaches to tax strategy and compliance.

Deadline March (annually)
Entry Fee Free (nomination)
Eligibility North America
View program →
📍

Regional Programs

Geographic-based rankings and lists for metro, state, and country-level recognition.

2 programs

Canada's Best Managed Companies

High

Deloitte Canada

Recognizes excellence in Canadian-owned and managed companies.

Deadline October (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility Canada
View program →

San Francisco Business Times Fast 100

Mid

San Francisco Business Times

Ranks the Bay Area's 100 fastest-growing private companies.

Deadline July (annually)
Entry Fee Free
Eligibility San Francisco Bay Area
View program →

Which of these should your company enter?

Shemvara matches your profile to the awards you're most likely to win — then writes the submissions.