Process
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26 Nov Nominations open
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27 Feb Nominations close
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23 Mar Shortlist released
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30 Mar Voting opens
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27 Apr Voting closes
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19 May Winners announced
Nominate
When do nominations open?
Nominations for the Global Water Awards 2026 open on 26 Nov 2025. Make your submission before 27 Feb 2026 at 23:59 GMT for your chance to recognise the innovations transforming our industry.
What can be nominated?
Submit any company, project, initiative, plant, or technology that you think transformed water in 2025. View the categories ranging across all areas of the global water industry, highlighting innovation everywhere from desalination to sustainability and beyond.
Who can submit a nomination?
Everyone! Whether you’re celebrating your own company’s achievements or highlighting an inspiring project you’ve witnessed from afar – we want to hear from you. Individuals and companies can nominate with no fees attached.
How many nominations can I submit?
You can submit as many nominations as you like using our online portal – complete the evidence for one nomination before selecting additional categories. Each project, plant, company, or technology will only be counted once per category. Coordinate with your team to avoid duplicate submissions.
What makes a winning nomination?
We’re looking for the initiatives that have made a real difference in 2025, demonstrating innovation, sustainability, or operational excellence, helping build a positive future for water. All nominations must include supporting evidence such as images, diagrams, letters, etc.
How can I submit a nomination?
Login to our nomination portal using your email address and details. Include supporting evidence such as images, slides, videos, or diagrams as well as key project, plant, or company details and logo files. Check our category descriptions and our Ts&Cs to ensure your submission reaches our judging panel.
Shortlist
Nominations will close on 27 Feb 2026 at midnight GMT, after which the pool of nominations will be examined and reviewed by a panel of experts at Global Water Intelligence. The committee will compile a shortlist of entries for each category, to be announced 23 March before voting opens on 30 March.
Vote
Choose your heroes. The Awards winners are selected by the GWI community of voters, ensuring our awards are truly industry led – about water professionals, for water professionals, chosen by water professionals.
All GWI members will receive their personalised voting link via email once voting opens in March 2026. Your link will take you to our voting portal, where you can have your say in each of our categories.
Maximise your impact. Our most active and knowledgeable members drive our decisions on industry leadership. Voting allocation is as follows:
- 5 Votes = Single or Individual Licence (incl. DesalData, UK Water Report)
- 10 Votes = Corporate Licence (incl. GWI Executive, WDR, UK Water Report), or DesalData Multi-Licence
- 25 Votes = GWI WaterData, or WDR Bronze+
- 50 Votes = GWI Executive Bronze+
- 75 Votes = GWI Executive Bronze+ AND WaterData
*Those who hold multiple memberships will receive the vote share allocated to their highest-level membership only. Voting numbers will not be combined, apart from where specified above.
Contact our team to find out how you can increase your engagement.
Build community support. Connect with fellow members, showcase your achievements, and spotlight the work you’re passionate about by campaigning to the GWI community across GWI Executive, WaterData, DesalData, the Global Water Summit and more. Get your voice heard through our GWI TV YouTube interviews, make some noise across our LinkedIn networks, or advertise across the GWI ecosystem to secure support from voters around the world.
Reach out to us today to find out how you can amplify your voice to GWI voters.
Celebrate
Witness the winners announced live at the Global Water Awards Ceremony on 19 May 2026. Enjoy an evening of inspiration and exceptional cuisine nestled in the heart of Madrid.
The ceremony is hosted during the Global Water Summit, the flagship event for the international water sector.
Secure your Summit pass to access the awards, alongside three days of unparalleled networking, insights, and collaboration with the awards winners and the sector’s most influential voices.
FAQs
Can I submit the same project to multiple categories?
Companies/projects/plants can be nominated for more than one category, so long as they satisfy the category criteria. We do not accept duplicate submissions. Submitting the same entry across one or more categories will not increase your likelihood of being shortlisted.
Our judging panel may reassign nominations to different categories if they suit the requirements.
Are all categories open for nominations?
The SDG6 Champion, Water Technology Idol, and Leading Utilities of the World awards are not open for public nominations. All other categories are open to all.
Please check our category descriptions and Terms & Conditions before submitting.
How can I become eligible to vote?
You must hold a GWI membership in order to vote.
Contact our team to become a member.
How can I increase my voting power
Your number of votes is determined by your engagement in our community as outlined above.
Contact our team to upgrade your membership tier to get more involved and gain further votes.
How can I gain support from the voting community?
Make sure your initiative is visible to the GWI community by advertising across the GWI ecosystem including our affiliated websites and social media.
Contact our team to find out how you can get involved.
Why are the Global Water Awards linked to the Global Water Summit?
How do I book my Global Water Awards ceremony ticket?
Are there VIP benefits for the Awards Ceremony?
VIPs can receive a bespoke concierge experience during the Awards Ceremony, as our team curate your networking, matching you with partners that mirror your goals, streamlining your experience with ease. VIPs also have access to the entire Global Water Summit.
Find out more about personalising your experience on our GWS VIP page.