Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026: Submissions Now Open

Michael Miller · 2026-05-06

For nearly 20 years, we've been telling the scary stories about cyberspace. You know the ones: the big hacks that bring down companies, the broken systems that leave data exposed, and the new threats that keep security teams up at night. But there's a quieter story that deserves the spotlight. It's about the leaders who make tough calls under pressure, the teams building smarter defenses every day, and the security products that keep hunting threats 24/7. ### A New Way to Celebrate Cybersecurity Heroes We're launching the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026 to honor that work. This isn't about the biggest breach or the flashiest attack. It's about recognizing the people and products that make a real difference. For too long, the good stuff has stayed in the background. Think about the security analyst who spots a zero-day before it's weaponized. Or the product team that patches a critical vulnerability in hours instead of days. Those stories matter just as much as the headlines.  ### What Makes These Awards Different Here's what sets the Cybersecurity Stars Awards apart from other industry recognitions: - **Focus on impact**, not hype. We're looking for real results, not marketing buzz. - **Open to all sizes**. From solo practitioners to global teams, everyone can submit. - **Judged by peers**. Security professionals who know the trenches will evaluate entries. - **Categories cover the full spectrum**. Think threat detection, incident response, product innovation, and leadership.  ### How Submissions Work Submissions are now open, and the process is straightforward. You don't need a PR team or a fancy deck. Just tell us about the work that made a difference. Each entry should highlight the challenge, the solution, and the outcome. We're not looking for perfection—we're looking for genuine effort and results. If your team stopped a major attack or built a tool that saved hours of manual work, that's exactly what we want to hear about. ### Why This Matters Now Cybersecurity is harder than ever. Attackers are more sophisticated, budgets are tighter, and burnout is real. Celebrating the wins keeps morale high and shows the industry what's possible. It also helps others learn from what worked. When a team shares how they blocked a ransomware campaign or streamlined their patch management, that knowledge spreads. It makes everyone stronger. That's the kind of ripple effect we're aiming for. ### What to Expect After Submission Once you submit, our panel of judges will review every entry. We'll announce finalists in early 2026, followed by winners at a virtual ceremony. All finalists get featured on The Hacker News, and winners receive a digital badge and profile. No entry fees, no strings attached. Just a chance to get the recognition your work deserves. ### Ready to Submit? Head over to the submission page and tell us your story. Whether you're a one-person security operation or part of a global team, your work matters. Let's make sure the world knows about it. Submissions close on January 31, 2026. Don't wait—the best stories often get told last minute, but early entries get extra visibility. ### Final Thoughts For two decades, we've covered the dark side of cybersecurity. Now it's time to shine a light on the heroes. The Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026 is our way of saying thank you to everyone who keeps the digital world safe. So go ahead. Submit your story. You've earned it.