ACES Awards 2026

STEP 1: Submission of Nomination Form
Nominees must submit the official Nomination Form by the stipulated deadline to initiate the nomination process. This submission enables the ACES Secretariat to conduct preliminary screening and due diligence prior to formal registration. Requests for deadline extensions may be considered on a case by case basis under valid and exceptional circumstances, subject to approval by the ACES Secretariat.

Corporate nominees must have a minimum qualifying annual revenue of USD 1 million. This requirement does not apply to NGOs, NPOs, or impact-driven organisations.

To ensure focused evaluation and strong alignment with category criteria, nominees may select up to a maximum of three categories per submission cycle. Where additional categories are indicated, the nomination will be reviewed and aligned to a maximum of three categories for evaluation in consultation with the ACES Council.

STEP 2: Registration of Nomination and Required Submissions
Following due diligence, nominations that are approved will be formally registered. Upon successful registration, nominees will receive an official communication from the ACES Secretariat outlining the required supporting documents, access to the online evaluation form, a scheduling link to select a date and time for the finalist interview, and an official invoice for the nomination fee where applicable.

A nomination fee of USD 300 applies, subject to the following conditions:

Invited Nominations: For nominees formally invited to participate in ACES Awards 2026, the USD 300 fee is waived for the first nominated category. A fee of USD 300 applies for each additional category submitted.

Inbound Nominations: For nominations submitted directly via the ACES website or without an official invitation, a fee of USD 300 applies for each award category nominated.

Nominees may schedule their interview in advance. However, the finalist interview will only be conducted after all required supporting documents and the online evaluation have been fully submitted. All required submissions must be completed at least three days prior to the scheduled interview. The interview will be conducted via videoconference.

STEP 3: Finalist Interview and ACES Council Deliberation
The finalist interview is a mandatory and integral component of the evaluation process, enabling ACES representatives to clarify submissions, address any information gaps, and develop a complete assessment of each nomination. All verified information is then compiled and presented to the ACES Council for final review and deliberation.

Final awardees are decided by the ACES Council, and winners will be announced in 3 waves; Wave 1, Wave 2, and Wave 3, prior to the ACES Awards Celebration and Gala Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 15th and 16th October 2026.

We hereby acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. We understand that nomination submissions are reviewed and accepted by the ACES Secretariat strictly based on merit and eligibility, and that a nomination fee of USD 300 per award category may apply, unless waived by the ACES Secretariat in accordance with the ACES Awards Terms and Conditions.
   
   
2. We declare that all information provided in this submission is true, accurate, and verifiable to the best of our knowledge. We acknowledge and accept that if any information is found to be materially incorrect, misleading, or misrepresented at any stage of the evaluation process or after results are announced, the nomination and or award status may be rendered void without entitlement to refund or compensation.
   
   
3. We acknowledge and expressly agree that, if selected as a winner, participation in the ACES Award Winners Programme is mandatory and forms an integral part of the award recognition. We confirm that acceptance of award status constitutes acceptance of the applicable subscription terms, deliverables, and fees, as set out in the official Winner Acceptance Form and related programme documentation.
   
   
4. We declare that neither the nominee nor the submitting party is related to any staff of the Organisers or any ACES Council members, except in the context of normal business relationships where applicable. We further confirm that no attempt has been made, and will be made, to improperly influence the decisions of the Organisers or the ACES Council by monetary or other means.
   
   
5. We confirm that the undersigned is either the nominee or an authorised representative of the nominee or nominating organisation, and that we have full authority to submit this nomination and to bind the relevant individual, company, or organisation to all obligations arising from this submission, and that all necessary internal approvals have been obtained prior to submission.

By submitting this nomination and signing below, we affirm our understanding and acceptance of all declarations stated above.

As part of our commitment to responsible leadership and sustainability, we may use data submitted through the ACES Awards application for academic and industry research purposes, including written submissions and interviews with the Secretariat and panel reviewers. All data will be anonymised, and findings will be reported only in aggregated or thematic form. No individual or organisation will be identifiable in any publication.