Award Force Blog

Discover how Award Force’s new dashboard visualisation empowers program managers and judges with real-time insights, streamlined workflows and data-driven decision-making.

Every year brings new milestones for the awards community, and this year was no exception. Our clients around the globe continued to innovate, expand and elevate their recognition efforts. Here, at Award Force, we’ve had the privilege of supporting these achievements while also strengthening our platform with exciting new features to help our clients run exceptional, streamlined awards.

Which trends will shape award management in 2026, and how can you prepare your program now? Here are six developments set to make a significant impact in the awards industry in 2026.

Transitioning to a cloud-based accreditation system offers a powerful opportunity to eliminate paperwork and streamline your entire accreditation workflow. Here’s a look at the benefits.

Awards programs play a vital role in driving scientific and technological progress by fostering competition, collaboration and experimentation, amplifying new ideas, validating research, and attracting both funding and talent. By celebrating innovation and setting evolving standards of excellence, they inspire continued discovery and help shape the future direction of science.

Recognising excellence, whether in education, design, film, photography, art or other disciplines, often requires evaluating the entrant’s complete body of work. Portfolio assessment captures the depth and evolution of their competence and contributions over time, acknowledging sustained quality and encouraging entrants to reflect, curate and present their work.

As an awards manager, it’s typical to wonder how much it costs to run an awards program. It’s crucial to note that while some costs are expected and planned for, there are others that are harder to predict.

For awards program managers, the nomination stage often sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s where participants first engage with your program and where credibility, fairness and efficiency are put to the test.

Awards managers in Canada are working to maintain stellar quality and overall participant experience as their awards programs grow. The best way to effectively scale your awards program is to use award management software to streamline operations. Award Force is the answer.

Employee recognition can extend beyond appreciating employees for their efforts. Building sustainability into your employee recognition programs is a powerful way to celebrate your employees and invest in the planet.

The right photo judging software can make all the difference, helping you stay organised, save time and deliver a fair experience for participants and judges alike. Not all platforms are created equal, though. Before you launch your next contest, it’s worth knowing what to look for so you don’t end up with more headaches than solutions.

Handing out prizes to award winners doesn’t have to mean goodbye. There’s a valuable opportunity to stay connected to your awardees and expand the impact of your awards program in the post-award period. One way to maximise this opportunity is by establishing a robust and engaging alumni network for your awardees.