International Quality Awards 2026 - Apply by 30 January
About the awards
Now in their ninth year, the International Quality Awards recognise and reward the contributions of quality professionals, teams and organisations worldwide.
Our winners and finalists represent a dynamic quality profession across a range of industries and sectors. The awards celebrate their commitment to quality excellence; enhancing product and service value while improving outcomes for organisations, people and the planet.
See the 2025 award winners and finalists
See photos from the 2025 award ceremony
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from everyone including CQI members, IRCA registered auditors, non-members, quality teams and organisations. Each award has different criteria and eligibility rules, so please read this guide carefully to ensure you are entering for the right award.
You may enter more than one category, providing you tailor the entry to meet that category’s criteria. Please note, that if you are entering an award as an individual, there will only be one category that suits where you are in your career – so please read the eligibility requirements carefully.
Why apply?
- Show leadership in quality within your organisation
- Share your story for the benefit of other quality professionals
- Advocate the strategic value of quality professionals and auditors for organisations and industry
- Receive recognition from influencers and peers within the profession if you are shortlisted as a finalist
- Collect a trophy at the awards ceremony and feature in Quality World magazine if you win
Award categories – which one should I apply for?
Applying for an individual award
Emerging Talent
If you are in the first three years of your quality career and have a role with no line-management responsibilities, you should apply for Emerging Talent.
Quality Professional of the Year
If you are a Chartered Member or Fellow of the CQI, you should apply for Quality Professional of the Year.
Please do not apply for both of our individual awards, as you will only be eligible for one. Entries which apply for both categories will be removed.
Applying for a team or organisational award
Digital Transformation
The initiative that best demonstrates how quality professionals applying the principles of Quality 4.0, can drive organisational digital transformation.
Developing Quality Talent
This award recognises a strategy, initiative or project that best identifies and develops quality talent.
Quality Team of the Year
This category recognises the quality team that has had the greatest impact on their organisation, taking into account the context within they operate. This must be demonstrated by applying their knowledge and skills in the CQI Profession Map areas of Context, Governance, Assurance, Improvement and Leadership.
Quality Organisation of the Year
This award recognises the quality organisation best exhibits a culture of quality and puts it at the heart of everything they do.
Honorary awards
CQI Volunteering Impact
Volunteers can self-nominate or nominate others. The CQI Executive also submit nominations. Judging is carried out by an internal panel, combined with a public vote from the CQI membership.
Outstanding Contribution to Quality Management Practice
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant and lasting contribution to quality management, resulting in clear benefits to society in any one or more of the following areas:
- academic thinking
- education
- policy
- practice
The recipient is selected by a panel of former winners and is not open to public entries.
How to enter
Applicants can enter online at quality.org/IQA26. You must complete all questions and support your application with robust data. If your entry contains confidential or sensitive information, please clearly state this.
Terms and conditions
These terms and conditions are between the Chartered Quality Institute (‘the CQI’), a registered charity in England and Wales (charity no. 259678), and each Applicant for one or more awards that may be announced at the International Quality Awards (‘the Awards’) ceremony at Quality Live 2025. The Awards Process is set by the CQI. The CQI assembles one or more Judging Panels that decide the finalists and winners of each award through a Judging Process that is part of the overall Awards Process.
See the full terms and conditions in each award category.
Fees
There is a fee of £299 +VAT for all team or organisation awards, unless you are a CQI corporate member or corporate partner. To find out whether your organisation qualifies for a free entry, please refer to our list of corporate partners.
The judging process
For each category, a panel of three judges – made up of independent subject matter experts – evaluates and scores all applications and selects a shortlist of finalists.
Finalists will be invited to attend a one-hour online interview with the category judges who reviewed their entries.
The International Quality Awards 2026 are now open for entries.
The winners will be announced at Quality Live on Thursday 25 June 2026.