The 2026 Channel Awards launch TODAY!

It is our earliest launch ever to give everyone more time to submit their entries

2026 is the year of the Channel Awards double whammy!

Not only is it the earliest launch of the Channel Oscars ever, but there are plenty of revised and new categories to sink your collective teeth into, as well as the old favourites.

These awards belong to the IT channel, and when you ask for change, we deliver. We understand how much work and effort goes into entering, and it is very much appreciated.

With detailed criteria for every category, CRN intends to make it as easy as possible for companies to enter.

What’s new?

Where do we start? One of the exciting new vendor and distributor categories this year is the HyperScaler of the Year (£500m+ revenue) and HyperScaler Distribution Partner of the Year, aimed at encouraging the bigger kids on the block out to play.

With a minimum revenue of £500m for vendors, this isn’t a category for the faint-hearted - but it is hopefully going to be one heck of a fight.

The rest of the vendor categories remain unchanged due to popularity, and two categories will require a presentation on a judging day in September if shortlisted: Security Vendor of the Year and Vendor of the Year. Please do bear this in mind when entering.

The distribution revenue categories have also been revised based on number of entries for each category last year – so we now have two brackets; less than £150m turnover and £150m+ turnover. Both of these will require presentations if shortlisted.

Another welcome return is the Specialist Distributor of the Year which is back by popular demand and will hopefully give even more names a chance to win an award.

Changes have also been made in the reseller categories, mainly bringing back the word reseller due to some confusion last year over the word partner.

Due to phenomenal demand last year, the MSP of the Year category has been officially split into two revenue brackets in 2026 - under £10m turnover and £10m+ turnover, which will really give companies of all sizes a fairer crack at the whip.

The Best Sustainability Project/Initiative and Best DE&I Project/Initiative have been moved to the general category where resellers, vendors and distributors will compete side by side.

What happens now?

Once the awards are open, channel firms have until Friday 26 June to submit their entries which will then go through a round of shortlist judging and the successful ones onto the second round of judging which is scheduled for Thursday 24 September in central London. More details will be released in due course.

As ever, it is important to say that the Channel Awards wouldn't have reached 33 years without the unwavering support of the industry, so we want to say thank you for making this event such an important part of the channel calendar.

So for now, have a look at all of the categories and criteria via the Channel Awards’ dedicated website and decide what best applies to you.

You are very welcome to enter as many categories as you please but do be aware that the judges will notice if a repeat entry is submitted in multiple categories and it will count against you.

Please do read the criteria to help you plan your entries - it really is there to help.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask one of the team.

The deadline for entries is Friday 26 June. We look forward to celebrating with you all in November. But for now, good luck and let the fun begin!

Click here to view the categories & criteria and here to login to the portal and view the entry questionnaires.