The Hacker News Opens Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026 for Submissions

TL;DR — The Hacker News has launched the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026, a global recognition program for security companies, products, professionals, and teams. Submissions are open via https://awards.thehackernews.com/ with a deadline of May 15, 2026 and winners to be announced May 26, 2026. The program targets visibility among CISOs, security leaders, practitioners, and enterprise buyers.

What happened

The Hacker News announced the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026, positioning it as a shift from reporting on security failures toward recognizing defensive excellence. The organization frames the program around work that "often goes unnoticed" — leaders, teams, and products operating effectively without public incident visibility.

The awards portal opened for submissions immediately. Applicants must create an account, purchase nomination credits, select from four award categories, and submit before May 15, 2026. Winners will be announced on May 26, 2026.

Why it matters

For security professionals and organizations in MENA, the program offers a channel to gain visibility among a global audience of CISOs, senior security leaders, practitioners, engineers, and enterprise buyers. The Hacker News states that recognition through the awards provides "visibility among the people who evaluate, select, and deploy cybersecurity technologies."

For vendors and products, the distinction carries weight tied to The Hacker News's editorial reputation. The organization notes that "recognition in cybersecurity only matters when it is trusted," and positions the awards as an extension of its independent reporting model.

For practitioners and teams, the professional and team category provides a formal recognition pathway outside traditional vendor-focused awards.

Award categories

The program offers four submission paths:

Cybersecurity Product / Service — covers cloud, endpoint, identity, threat detection, application, and data protection; applicants can request additional categories
Cybersecurity Industry Solution — for solutions built for specific verticals (finance, healthcare, government, critical infrastructure) with documented impact
Cybersecurity Company — for organizations demonstrating leadership, growth, and consistent execution
Cybersecurity Professional / Team — for individuals and teams driving innovation, resilience, and measurable impact

What to do

Visit https://awards.thehackernews.com/ and create an account
Purchase nomination credits (cost not specified in the announcement)
Select the relevant category or categories for your submission
Complete the nomination form with details on work, impact, and innovation
Submit before May 15, 2026
For support, contact awards@thehackernews.com

Open questions

What is the cost of nomination credits, and does it vary by category?
How many awards will be given across each category?
What are the specific evaluation criteria and weighting used in the review process?
Are there geographic restrictions or eligibility requirements by region or country?
Will evaluation be conducted by The Hacker News editorial staff, external judges, or a combination?
What recognition and visibility do winners receive beyond announcement on May 26?