The 2026 CIO Awards nominations remain open until 30 April 2026, giving colleagues and peers more time to recognise the most outstanding CIOs and IT leaders in the industry.
Nominations for the most prestigious accolades in IT are pouring in – but you still have a chance to nominate your IT leader and recognise their outstanding contributions to organisational success.
A CIO Awards nomination is a career-defining achievement, celebrating hard work, dedication and leadership in driving technological excellence. Don’t miss the opportunity to honour the industry’s best!
Dubbed ‘The Oscars of IT’, the awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of CIOs, CTOs, CDOs and IT executives who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, and technology management. These awards recognise IT leaders who have made significant contributions to their organisations by leveraging technology to drive business growth, enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency.
To nominate a CIO or an IT leader, simply visit the CIO Awards website and fill out the nomination form. Nominations can be made by anyone, including colleagues, employees, partners and customers. The nomination process is easy, and it only takes a few minutes to complete.
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Nominees must have spent 18 months or more in their current role as of 1 January 2026. They must be the most senior member in the IT department and report directly to the CEO. To be considered for the Young CIO of the Year Award, nominees must be 40-years-old or younger.
The 2025 CIO Awards categories are:
- CIO of the Year
- Public Sector CIO of the Year
- Young CIO of the Year
- Strategy & Leadership Award
- Digital Innovation Award
- Smart Data Award
- IT Project of the Year
- Cybersecurity Award
- High-Performance Team Award
Finalists will undergo a rigorous judging process. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in November 2026, featuring fine dining, exciting entertainment and networking with senior industry leaders.
Past CIO Awards winners include Absa’s Johnson Idesoh, Standard Bank’s Jörg Fischer, Wits’ Stanley Mpofu, Bidvest Bank’s Nomonde White-Ndlovu, Unisa’s Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi and Mr Price’s Kim Sim. Make sure your IT leader joins this prestigious alumni – nominate them today!
