Australia's search for the country's most outstanding AI innovators has officially begun.
Submissions and nominations are now open for the Australian AI Awards 2026, recognising the individuals, teams, organisations and projects that are advancing artificial intelligence across every corner of the Australian economy.
Returning for its third year, the Australian AI Awards has quickly established itself as the national benchmark for excellence in AI, celebrating the researchers, engineers, founders, executives and organisations transforming industries through innovation, practical application and measurable impact. This year, the awards feature 37 categories recognising achievements across individual excellence, organisational leadership and groundbreaking AI solutions.
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Whether you've built a market-leading AI product, delivered transformative outcomes within your organisation, or pioneered new ways to harness artificial intelligence, now is the time to have your achievements recognised on a national stage.
If you're not eligible to enter yourself, or know someone whose work deserves recognition, you can nominate an individual, team or organisation in just a few minutes. Nominations can be submitted anonymously, and once received, nominees will be invited to complete a formal submission for judging.
All submissions will be independently assessed by a panel of respected experts from industry, academia and government against a transparent judging methodology, ensuring every entry is evaluated fairly and consistently. Finalists and winners receive national recognition through Cyber Daily, extensive media exposure and the opportunity to celebrate with Australia's leading AI community at the prestigious black-tie gala in Sydney.
Key dates
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Submissions and nominations open: Tuesday, 14 July 2026
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Submissions close: Friday, 14 August 2026
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Finalists announced: Thursday, 10 September 2026
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Australian AI Awards gala: Friday, 30 October 2026, Hyatt Regency Sydney
If you're ready to benchmark your achievements against Australia's best, now is the time to get involved.
Explore all 37 award categories to discover where your achievements fit and find the category that best showcases your work.
Start your submission today and take the first step towards national recognition at the Australian AI Awards 2026 before submissions close on Friday, 14 August.
Nominate a colleague, team or organisation whose contribution to Australia's AI landscape deserves to be recognised and celebrated.
Review the awards methodology to learn more about the eligibility criteria, judging process and how submissions are assessed by our independent panel of experts.
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