Next CIO Awards: Recognizing Future IT Leaders & Innovation
About the Next CIO Awards
About the Next CIO Awards
The Next CIO Awards identify and celebrate rising technology leaders who are poised to become tomorrow’s most influential CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs. Built on the authority of the CIO brand and the legacy of the CIO 100 Awards, the program elevates high-potential IT executives who demonstrate exceptional IT leadership and drive meaningful enterprise innovation early in their careers.
This is more than an award — it’s a career accelerator. Next CIO honorees gain national visibility, access to industry leaders, and year-round opportunities to grow through CIO 100 Leadership Live programming.
Why Next CIO Matters
Organizations are evolving faster than ever, and the need for strong, strategic, and innovative IT leadership has never been greater. The Next CIO Awards shine a spotlight on emerging leaders who are already driving digital transformation strategies across their companies, influencing digital strategy, and demonstrating the mindset of a future CIO.
Next CIO honors individuals who:
- Lead with strategic influence, clarity, and vision
- Deliver measurable impact through technology initiatives
- Champion innovation, modernization, and responsible AI adoption
- Build high-trust teams and cross-functional partnerships
- Demonstrate the curiosity, resilience, and adaptability of next-generation CIOs
Who Should Be Nominated
The Next CIO Awards recognize rising leaders who have not yet reached the CIO role but are clearly on the path. Ideal nominees include professionals already demonstrating strong IT leadership and contributing to meaningful enterprise innovation across their organizations, including:
- Directors, senior managers, and VPs in IT, data, security, or digital transformation
- High-potential leaders identified in succession planning pipelines
- Technology innovators demonstrating cross-functional influence
- Leaders of strategic enterprise initiatives (AI, cloud, cyber, data, modernization)
- Professionals recognized internally as “future CIO material”
Experience: 5–10 years in digital, data, technology, or a business role that collaborates closely with these departments.
This makes Next CIO both a prestigious honor and a practical development platform.
Nomination Timeline
- Nominations Open: Now
- 2026 Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026
- Regional Programming: Aligns with CIO 100 Leadership Live events
- National Spotlights: Published periodically on CIO.com
- Next CIO WINNERS ANNOUNCED @ CIO 100 Conference & Awards: August 17–19, 2026 at the Omni PGA Frisco in Frisco, TX.
To be considered for the 2026 class announced at CIO 100, submit your nomination by March 31.
Facts & Questions Cheat Sheet
Nominate a Next CIO Leader Today
Help us identify the rising executives who are shaping the future of enterprise innovation and driving the next generation of IT leadership across enterprise organizations.
Why Participate?
For Nominees
- Recognition as a high-potential technology leader
- Direct access to CIO 100 Award winners and Hall of Fame CIOs
- Invitations to exclusive leadership programming
- Increased visibility within your organization and across the industry
- A milestone achievement supporting succession and promotion conversations
For Employers
- Attract, retain, and engage emerging leaders
- Showcase your organization’s commitment to leadership development
- Gain visibility among peers, partners, and prospective talent
- Strengthen your internal CIO pipeline
For Sponsors
- Access to rising decision-makers who will shape future enterprise technology investments
- Alignment with the CIO brand’s leadership development ecosystem
- Year-round engagement with a highly targeted audience of next-generation IT leaders