Global Entries Open for the 2026 WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards.

Global Entries Open for the 2026 WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards.

The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has opened this year’s worldwide submissions for what has been one of the industry’s most prestigious competitions for almost two decades: The Digital Media Awards.

Launched first in Europe and then in Asia-Pacific, the awards became a worldwide competition within 4 years. Since its inception, these awards have honoured news publishers who excel in their work and deliver unique and original digital news projects.

Celebrating excellence in digital publishing, the Digital Media Awards continue to inspire hundreds of publishers around the globe each year to bring their strongest projects to an international stage, inspiring peers and celebrating the teams behind their success. As the industry continues to navigate a moment of profound change, the Digital Media Awards stand as a collective commitment to support publishers worldwide and to help propel the news media sector forward with a renewed sense of purpose.

A global stage for digital excellence

This year, WAN-IFRA introduces a unified entry process in which all submissions are assessed simultaneously for both the regional Digital Media Awards (Asia, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa) and the global Digital Media Awards. They feature 12 categories covering key areas of digital news innovation, which are available here.

The competition is open to media organisations of all sizes, from emerging digital natives to established brands, that have implemented meaningful digital initiatives launched, implemented, or significantly evolved between 1 January and 31 December 2025

To recognise the work of rising news organisations and independent news creators regionally and globally, WAN-IFRA has added a Best Emerging News Providers category to its annual Digital Media Awards as part of WAN-IFRA’s Future Audience Initiative. This new category supports a three-pillar global program designed not only for established news organisations but equally for independent news creators, digital-native publishers, and emerging media voices who today lack access to professional networks and representation.

How to enter

Entries can be submitted through the WAN-IFRA awards platform until 31 December at 23:59 CET. Complete guidelines, category requirements, and submission criteria are available on the website.

Contact and Inquiries

For more information, contact Sumithra Hönig, Director of Global Sales & Events, WAN-IFRA, awards@wan-ifra.org.