With applications now live, new digital platforms in place and the judging panels announced, Today Digital’s 2026 awards programmes are building towards their November finals.

Rob Scott, Founder at Today Digital, said:

“We’re operating in probably the biggest period of technology innovation we’ve seen for some time, particularly with the momentum behind AI, and we’re seeing some genuinely impressive use cases emerging across customer experience and workplace technology.”

Why are the 2026 awards programmes changing?

The UC and CX Awards are evolving to better reflect the technologies and outcomes shaping modern enterprises. As AI, automation and data-driven experiences influence workplace technology and customer experience, both programmes are extending their focus beyond their traditional Unified Communications and Contact Center foundations.

The expanded enterprise technology awards recognise that business technology decisions are increasingly interconnected. A customer experience transformation can depend on communications, AI, employee experience, security and workflow technology working together. This year’s programmes are designed to reflect that reality.

Broader categories for a broader market

The updated category structure gives organisations more ways to present products, projects and innovations that have delivered meaningful outcomes. It also creates space for the fast-moving technologies now influencing customer and employee experiences across the enterprise.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 awards reflect a wider enterprise technology market.
• New and expanded categories recognise innovation across adjacent technologies.
• The focus remains on real-world outcomes, not technology hype.

That expansion is central to this year’s programmes. The entry process is intended to surface work that demonstrates practical innovation, measurable value and a clear understanding of enterprise needs.

How are the awards judging panels being strengthened?

Today Digital is expanding its awards judging panels to approximately 24 judges across the two programmes, with stronger representation from enterprise buyers, practitioners, analysts, consultants, advisers and independent industry experts.

The approach gives entries a wider range of perspectives as they move into assessment later this year. In particular, increased buy-side representation helps ensure enterprise technology awards are evaluated against the requirements, experiences and outcomes that matter to end users.

Who will lead the judging programmes?

Today Digital has now announced the judging panels for both awards. The panels bring together enterprise technology buyers, practitioners, independent analysts, consultants and industry experts to assess this year’s entries.

Marcus Law will serve as Chair of Judges for the UC Awards, while Rob Wilkinson will serve as Chair of Judges for the CX Awards. Together, the panels will help identify the products, projects and organisations delivering meaningful innovation across workplace technology and customer experience.

Read the full judging-panel announcements for the UC Awards 2026 and CX Awards 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Today Digital is building awards judging panels of around 24 people.
• Enterprise buyers and practitioners will play a more prominent role.
• Rob Wilkinson and Marcus Law will chair the CX and UC programmes respectively.

This broader judging model supports more relevant, balanced assessment while maintaining the independence expected of leading enterprise technology awards.

What is new about the 2026 awards platforms?

The UC and CX Awards now have dedicated web applications that bring entries, judging workflows, finalist showcases and winner archives into a more integrated digital experience.

For entrants, the platforms enable fully online applications. For judges, they provide a more consistent scoring process. For the wider market, they create a permanent home for programme information, finalists and winners.

How does blind judging support a fairer process?

Blind judging and entry redaction are important additions for 2026. By reducing identifying information during relevant stages of assessment, the process is designed to minimise potential bias and keep attention on the quality of the submission, its outcomes and its relevance to the category.

These changes are designed to make the entry and assessment experience clearer for everyone involved, while giving the industry a more permanent place to discover the organisations and projects recognised each year.

Rob Scott, Founder at Today Digital, said:

“We’ve broadened the categories, strengthened the judging panels and launched completely new platforms designed to make entering and judging the awards a better, fairer and more transparent experience.”

The awards are now moving from launch into active entry and assessment preparation. Applications are coming in, the judging panels are in place and the new platforms are operational ahead of the November 2026 finals.

The work behind the programmes has brought together Today Digital’s editorial, technology, product, marketing, client services and commercial teams. It represents a significant investment in a recognition programme built for the markets UC Today and CX Today serve.

Key Takeaways

• New platforms support online applications and integrated judging.
• Blind judging and redaction help strengthen assessment independence.
• Finalist and winner showcases give each programme a permanent digital home.

What happens next for the 2026 awards programmes?

For organisations with a product launch, customer project, technology deployment or innovation worth recognising, this is the moment to enter. The strongest applications will demonstrate how technology has delivered a credible result for customers, employees or the wider business.