iTnews Opens Entries for 2026-27 Benchmark Awards
The annual programme is accepting submissions for 11 distinct technology categories through December 2026.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Tech — General
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iTnews has officially opened the entry period for the 2026-27 Benchmark Awards, inviting organisations to showcase their recent technological achievements. The programme continues its 15-year history of honouring innovation and leadership across the Australian IT sector.
Why it matters
These awards provide critical recognition for technology teams that demonstrate exceptional ambition, innovation, and measurable value to their organisations. Winning projects and leaders gain significant professional visibility within the industry.
The awards programme includes 11 specific industry categories such as energy, retail, and telecommunications. One outstanding project will be awarded the title of Australian Technology Project of the Year.
The players
iTnews
This organisation is an Australian technology news publication that has hosted the annual Benchmark Awards for 15 years.
The details
Participants can submit their entries via an online portal where submissions are judged on delivered innovation, ambition, and organisational value. In addition to industry-specific categories, the programme recognises an individual as the Australian Technology Leader of the Year.
Timeline
Entries must be submitted by 11pm AEDST on 12 December 2026.
The awards gala dinner is scheduled for 24 March 2027.
The Tech Race
This programme reflects the continued evolution of the Australian IT sector by highlighting the most significant digital transformations. It follows a 15-year trend of industry recognition that tracks the integration of emerging technologies across various national business sectors.
Technology teams looking to gain national exposure or benchmark their work against industry standards should prepare their entries before the December deadline. Those interested in networking with industry leaders can attend the awards ceremony in Sydney next year.
The takeaway
Organisations should focus on clearly articulating the tangible business value and innovative aspects of their projects to succeed in the evaluation process. Preparing early for such industry-recognised awards can help teams validate their strategic technology initiatives.
What happens next
The deadline for all award entries is 12 December 2026 at 11pm AEDST, followed by the awards gala dinner at Doltone House Hyde Park in Sydney on 24 March 2027.
Further reading
For more information on national technological developments, see the Tech — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ITnews.
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