Digital Preservation Awards 2026 Launched: Celebrating Global Excellence
The search for the very best work in digital preservation is officially underway, with the launch of the Digital Preservation Awards 2026.
Organised by the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC), these prestigious biennial awards recognise outstanding contributions from individuals, teams and organisations working to secure a sustainable future for digital assets. Open to participants worldwide, the awards are free to enter and welcome nominations from across all sectors and stages of the digital preservation journey, with no requirement for DPC membership.
Nominations are now open and will close at 09:00 (UTC) on Tuesday 5 May 2026. Winners will be announced at a formal awards ceremony on Thursday 15 October.
Award Categories for 2026
This year’s awards span a broad range of achievements in digital preservation, including the introduction of a new category focused on resilience and continuity. Categories include:
- Award for Collaboration and Cooperation – recognising impactful cross-sector and cross-border partnerships
- Award for Research and Innovation – celebrating excellence in practical research and innovation
- Award for Teaching and Communications – highlighting achievements in outreach, training and advocacy
- Award for the Most Distinguished Student Work – showcasing emerging talent in digital preservation
- Award for Safeguarding the Digital Legacy – recognising efforts to protect at-risk digital materials
- Award for the Most Outstanding Initiative in Commerce, Industry and the Third Sector – acknowledging adoption beyond traditional memory institutions
- Award for Resilience, Maintenance, and Continuity – a new category recognising the critical work of maintaining and strengthening digital preservation infrastructure and workflows
Get Involved
Organisations and individuals are encouraged to submit nominations and showcase their work on a global stage. With digital preservation playing an increasingly critical role in governance, compliance, and long-term access to information, these awards highlight innovation and leadership across the profession.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations looking to support the awards and gain visibility within the international digital preservation community.
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit:
https://www.dpconline.org/news/digital-preservation-awards-launched-for-2026
Don’t miss the opportunity to be recognised among the leaders shaping the future of digital preservation.