These categories recognize the achievements of entire for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Company of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year, and Fastest-Growing Company of the Year, among others.

Nominations that won in the 2025 International Business Awards® may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2026 awards. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories in the 2026 competition include:

1. Written answers to the following questions, describing the nominated achievements since 1 January 2024, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:

a. Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 1,500 characters). Required
b. Outline the achievements since the beginning of 2024 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 1,900 characters). Required
c. Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible, compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 1,900 characters). Required
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters). Optional

2. Optional (but highly recommended), add to your entry up to 10 webpage links and up to 10 document uploads to support your case to the judges. These might be press articles, press releases, videos, work samples, internal or external reviews, or employee feedback, for example.

There are no entry fees for nominations in the Company of the Year categories (categories B01 - B45).
Stevie Award winners in the Company of the Year categories will automatically be included in public voting for the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies.

Company of the Year

Nominated organizations may be for-profit or non-profit, public or private, large or small. Each of these industry categories has three sub-categories:

• Small (≤ 50 employees and turnover ≤ €10 m/$11 million)

• Medium-size (≤ 250 employees and turnover ≤ €50 m/$55 million)

• Large (> 250 employees and turnover > €50 m/$55 million)

B01. Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

B02. Aerospace & Defense

B03. Agriculture & Agritech (New for 2026)

B04. Apparel, Beauty & Fashion

B05. Automotive & Transport Equipment

B06. Banking

B07. Biotechnology (New for 2026)

B08. Business & Professional Services

B09. Chemicals

B10. Computer Hardware

B11. Computer Software

B12. Computer Services

B13. Conglomerates

B14. Consumer Products - Durables

B15. Consumer Products - Non-Durables

B16. Consumer Services

B17. Cybersecurity (New for 2026)

B18. Diversified Services

B19. E-commerce (New for 2026)

B20. Education & EdTech (New for 2026)

B21. Electronics

B22. Energy

B23. Environmental Services/CleanTech (New for 2026)

B24. Financial Services

B25. Food & Beverage

B26. Gaming & Esports (New for 2026)

B27. Health Products & Services

B28. Health Providers (New for 2026)

B29. Hospitality & Leisure

B30. Insurance

B31. Internet/New Media

B32. Legal

B33. Logistics & Supply Chain (New for 2026)

B34. Manufacturing

B35. Materials & Construction

B36. Media & Entertainment

B37. Metals & Mining

B38. Non-Profit or Government Organizations

B39. Pharmaceuticals

B40. Real Estate

B41. Retail

B42. Telecommunications

B43. Transportation

B44. Utilities

B45. Venture Capital & Private Equity (New for 2026)

B46. Startup of the Year
For companies that began operations since 1 January 2023, but the nominations should describe achievements since the beginning of 2024. There are no entry fees for the Startup of the Year categories.
a. Business Product Industries
b. Business Service Industries
c. Consumer Product Industries
d. Consumer Service Industries

B47. Tech Startup of the Year
For companies that began operations since 1 January 2023, but the nominations should describe achievements since the beginning of 2024. There is no entry fee for this category.
a. Hardware/Peripherals
b. Services
c. Software

B48. Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year
Recognizes organizations' contributions to society:
a. in Asia, Australia and New Zealand
b. in Asia (China, Japan and Korea)
c. in Europe
d. in the Middle East and Africa
e. in Canada and the U.S.A.
f. in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America

B49. Energy Industry Innovation of the Year
Recognizes singular innovations in energy-related technology, production, conservation, storage or delivery, by an organization or an individual anywhere in the world, since 1 January 2024. There is no entry fee for this category.

B50. Fastest-Growing Company of the Year
Recognizes outstanding revenue growth since the start of 2025 over 2024:
a. in Asia, Australia and New Zealand
b. in Asia (China, Japan and Korea)
c. in Europe
d. in the Middle East and Africa
e. in Canada and the U.S.A.
f. in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America

B51. Health, Safety & Environment Program of the Year
Recognizes organizations' successful implementation of policies to prevent workplace accidents and injuries, increase safety awareness, and meet the requirements of environmental and occupational health and safety laws and requirements:
a. in Asia, Australia and New Zealand
b. in Asia (China, Japan and Korea)
c. in Europe
d. in the Middle East and Africa
e. in Canada and the U.S.A.
f. in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America

B52. Innovation of the Year
Recognizes singular innovations in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc., by an organization or an individual
a. Business Product Industries
b. Business Service Industries
c. Consumer Product Industries
d. Consumer Service Industries

B53. Most Innovative Company of the Year
Recognizes product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation in the past two years
a. Up to 100 Employees
b. Up to 2,500 Employees
c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B54. Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year
Recognizes overall achievement in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation
a. Up to 100 Employees
b. Up to 2,500 Employees
c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B55. Technical Innovation of the Year
Recognizes singular innovations in technology, new products, etc., by an organization or an individual
a. At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
b. At Organizations With Up to 1,150 Employees
c. At Organizations With 1,150 or More Employees