We conducted a call for nominations from February 2026 to March 2026. This was followed by an intensive research period to verify the nominations and to ensure that those selected as excellence awardees were the most deserving.

As publisher of The Educator, we have an unparalleled presence in the industry, making the nomination and research process enormously comprehensive.

More information about the Australian Education Awards methodology is available here.

As an excellence awardee in the 2026 Australian Education Awards, you will receive recognition at a national level both in the lead up to the event and in post-event coverage (if you attend the awards ceremony). Please note:

• You are welcome to share this achievement within your organisation immediately; however, all external announcements are embargoed until Monday 11 May 2026, which is when we’ll announce the excellence awardees through the Australian Educator online channels and on the Australian Education Awards website.
• Your nomination will now be forwarded to an independent panel of judges comprising education industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess the nominations and vote for the winners in each category according to the relevant criteria.
• To help us make the event more memorable, please provide 1 video following the instructions below, by Friday, 5 June.
• Book your table at the awards ceremony to ensure you are there to celebrate your success with your team. Bookings can be made online here.

The Australian Education Awards team will put together a compilation with all the excellence awardees videos to show at the awards night. This is an opportunity for the excellence awardees to showcase their work, or to simply put a face to their name! If you wish to be part of this, please provide a short video following the instructions below by Friday, 5 June.

IMPORTANT SPECIFICATIONS AND TIPS

• Video Length: Max 5-10 seconds
• Orientation: 16:9 (horizontal/landscape) in high resolution
• Content Ideas: You can film yourself or your team in the office, waving in front of your company logo, doing something fun, or showcasing interesting activities
• Audio/Text: Please do not include any audio (such as speeches or music) or text. We will add background music and text to all videos
• File Naming: Save the video with the name of the nominee (Name, surname, organisation name for individual awards; Organisation name for company awards)
• Submission: Send your video to awards@keymedia.com.au via email, a shared folder or WeTransfer
• Tips: If possible, use a tripod, try to avoid light behind you, and make sure that there is sufficient light on each face

Black tie

1. Best Co-Curricular Program 
2. Street Science Best STEM Program 
3. Toodle Best Use of Technology 
4. OneSchool Global Innovation in Curriculum Design 
5. Innovation In Learning Environment Design 
6. Primary School of the Year - Government 
7. Primary School of the Year - Non-government 
8. A Team Tuition Secondary School of the Year - Government 
9. Secondary School of the Year - Non-government 
10. Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year 
11. Regional School of the Year 
12. Special Education School of the Year 
13. PeopleBench Best School Strategic Plan 
14. Best Student Wellbeing Program 
15. Best Professional Learning Program 
16. Woolworths at Work Best First Nations Education Program 
17. Deputy Principal of the Year 
18. Primary School Principal of the Year – Government 
19. Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government 
20. School Principal of the Year – Government 
21. School Principal of the Year - Non-government 
22. Department Head of the Year 
23. Primary School Teacher of the Year - Government 
24. Primary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government 
25. Secondary School Teacher of the Year - Government 
26. Secondary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government 
27. FACTS Education Rising Star of the Year 
28. Campion Education Australian School of the Year 
29. Australian School Principal of the Year 

Accepting the award
If your organisation wins, please discuss beforehand who will go up on stage to accept the award from the presenter. As the program is running to strict time, please refrain from making a speech. N.B. If you are an excellence awardee in two categories in a row, please make sure you have two different people present to collect the award in case you win. The first person who collects the award may still be outside having their photo taken while the winner of the next award is being announced.

Photographs and video
Immediately after accepting your award, a Key Media staff member will escort you off stage to the media station for an official photograph and brief interview.

The Australian Education Awards is a spectacular black-tie gala evening, where hundreds of education professionals gather for a night of celebration, fine dining and exciting live entertainment. Every award winner present on the night will have their photo featured in the post-event coverage.

Book your table now and ensure you are there on the night to celebrate your success with your team.

Congratulations again and we look forward to seeing you at the event!

The Australian Education Awards team