The Hacker News Opens Submissions for Cybersecurity Stars 2026

The Hacker News opened submissions for the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026, inviting entries from companies, product teams, industry solutions, security professionals and teams. Submissions are open through May 15, 2026; winners will be announced on May 26, 2026. Applications are submitted through the awards portal at https://awards.thehackernews.com/.

Organizers defined four entry paths. The Cybersecurity Product or Service category covers cloud security, endpoint protection, identity, threat detection, application and data security. The Cybersecurity Industry Solution category covers implementations for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government and critical infrastructure. The Cybersecurity Company category is for organizations showing leadership and growth. The Cybersecurity Professional or Team category is for individuals and groups demonstrating measurable impact. Entrants may select an existing category or request a new one.

Applicants must create an account on the awards portal, purchase nomination credits, choose category or categories and complete the nomination form. Submissions should describe the work, list measurable outcomes and explain any technical or operational approaches used. All entries must be submitted by May 15, 2026. Organizers can be contacted at [email protected] for help.

Each entry will be reviewed through a structured evaluation process designed to maintain fairness and integrity. The awards target an audience that includes chief information security officers, senior security leaders, practitioners and enterprise technology buyers, and recognition is intended to reach people who evaluate, select and deploy cybersecurity solutions.

The Hacker News has covered cybersecurity for nearly 20 years. The awards program is presented to highlight security work that often receives little attention when defenses operate without incident. The awards portal is open for submissions now.