European Digital Skills Awards return for 2026 edition
Building on the success of the past three years, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform launches the 2026 edition of the European Digital Skills Awards.
Digital Skills and Jobs Platform
The 2026 edition of the European Digital Skills Awards is approaching. The call for submissions is now open, inviting eligible initiatives to present their proposals, and offering the chance to be recognised for their contribution to shaping Europe's digital future.
In this fourth edition of the awards since they were relaunched in 2023, the aim is to reach an even wider audience, activating current and future stakeholders around a large-scale celebration of best practices in skills development throughout Europe.
The European Commission invites everyone who has either initiated or completed projects that foster the adoption of digital skills in one of the five awards categories to apply. Applications are open until 20 March.
2026 award categories
The five European Digital Skills Awards categories reflect the diversity of digital skills needs and initiatives shaping Europe’s digital future:
- Digital Upskilling @ Work: projects focused on upskilling and reskilling professionals in various sector, including SMEs, facilitating job placements for ICT professionals.
- Digital Skills for Education: projects specifically aimed at digital upskilling for teachers and/or students, as well as VET providers, schools and administrations.
- Inclusion in the Digital World: projects delivering digital training, media literacy and accessibility skills to vulnerable and marginalised groups at risk of exclusion.
- Women in ICT Careers: projects that increase women’s representation in ICT, supporting workforce upskilling, and inspiring girls to pursue tech careers.
- Cybersecurity Skills: projects designed to develop cybersecurity skills for citizens and SMEs.
Application and eligibility
Applications for the 2026 edition of the European Digital Skills Awards are open until 20 March. For more information about the initiative, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform can be consulted. Applications can be submitted by completing this application form.
The European Commission welcomes applications from public, private, academic, research and/or training centres, schools, SMEs or large corporates, EU-funded project consortia, public administrations, NGOs and citizen initiatives.
Finalists will be announced during a special online event in spring 2026, and the in-person awards ceremony will take place in Brussels in June.
