For nearly 20 years, we at Hacker News have been primarily reporting horror stories about cyberspace: massive hacks, broken systems, and new threats.
But behind every headline there’s a quieter, better story.
This is the story of leaders who make tough decisions under pressure, teams who build smarter defenses, and security products that keep up with threats 24/7, even when the going gets tough.
Most of the time, this work is invisible. When everything goes perfectly, nothing happens. The world just remains safe and no one notices it.
Today, we want the world to take notice.
Introducing CyberStars Awards 2026
We are launching the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026, a global program that recognizes excellence across the cybersecurity industry and highlights great work that is often overlooked. Applications are now open and companies, products and professionals can apply through the official awards portal: https://awards.thehackernews.com/.
We’re no longer just reporting the news. We want to recognize the people behind it. The program aims to highlight organizations and individuals who are making meaningful contributions to cybersecurity across innovation, execution, and real-world impact, and provide a platform to showcase their work.
Why is this different?
One of the defining aspects of a program is its audience. Hacker News reaches a global community including CISOs, senior security leaders, practitioners, engineers, and enterprise buyers.
Recognition with the Cybersecurity Stars Awards is more than just symbolic. This provides visibility for those evaluating, selecting, and deploying cybersecurity technologies.
Each submission will be evaluated through a structured and impartial review process designed to maintain fairness and integrity.
Award category
We have opened four main avenues for you to be recognized. Whether you’re a solo hero or a global giant, there’s a place for you.
Cybersecurity Products/Services: Covering all areas of cybersecurity including cloud, endpoint, identity, threat detection, applications, and data protection. Please select the closest match or request a new category. Cybersecurity Industry Solutions: For solutions with demonstrable impact built for specific industries such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. Cybersecurity Company: For organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, growth, and consistent execution. Cybersecurity Professionals/Teams: For individuals and teams who drive innovation, resilience, and measurable impact.
How to apply
We’ve simplified the process so you can focus on telling your story. Here’s how to get started:
Visit the Awards Portal and create an account in seconds. Purchase named credits. Please select the most relevant category to apply. Please fill out the nomination form with details about your work, impact and innovation. Please submit your entry by the deadline.
If you have any questions or assistance, please contact us at awards@thehackernews.com.
important dates
Submission deadline: May 15, 2026 Winner announcement: May 26, 2026
Why is it important? Awareness in cybersecurity only matters if it is trusted. For vendors, trust drives credibility, adoption, and long-term value. Hacker News has built a reputation for independent, trusted reporting for security professionals around the world. The Cybersecurity Stars Awards extend the same foundation to provide credible and visible recognition of meaningful contributions across the industry.
Apply now
If your organization, product, or team is contributing to the cybersecurity landscape, this is your chance to be recognized.
Submit your nomination now: https://awards.thehackernews.com/
Submissions are now being accepted and the deadline is approaching.
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