The Global Water Awards 2026 has officially opened nominations following a rebrand, with submissions accepted until February 27, 2026, at 23:59 GMT. The awards, organized by Global Water Intelligence (GWI), recognize excellence across 15 categories in water, wastewater, technology, and desalination. This year introduces a new category focused on artificial intelligence and an expanded shortlist, providing increased opportunities for industry professionals to showcase their achievements to a global network.
The Global Water Awards are considered the international water industry's most prestigious honor. Previous winners include transnational water management companies, investors, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms, utilities, industrial water users, and not-for-profit water providers. Many shortlisted organizations have gone on to secure significant business deals. A full list of previous winners is available at https://globalwaterawards.com/winners.
Nominations are open to all entities in the water sector. The shortlist will be promoted to GWI's audience of over 40,000 readers, and winners will be announced live at the Global Water Awards ceremony during the Global Water Summit in Madrid. Nominations must be submitted via the secure portal on the Global Water Awards website: https://globalwaterawards.com/.
The inclusion of an AI-focused category reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence in water management, from predictive maintenance to optimizing treatment processes. This new category recognizes innovations that leverage AI to improve efficiency, reduce costs, or enhance water quality. The expanded shortlist also means that more nominees will gain visibility, potentially leading to new partnerships, investments, and business opportunities.
The Global Water Awards play a crucial role in highlighting advancements in the water industry, which faces challenges such as aging infrastructure, water scarcity, and climate change impacts. By honoring excellence, the awards encourage continued innovation and collaboration across the sector. The ceremony at the Global Water Summit in Madrid will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the future of water management.
For general enquiries, contact awards@globalwaterintel.com. Global Water Intelligence, the organizer, is a leading market intelligence and events company serving the international water industry for over 25 years. It provides high-level intelligence covering municipal markets, industrial verticals, technology, finance, and economics, helping clients make informed strategic decisions.
