European Open Source Awards 2026
The European Open Source Awards 2026 is coming to Brussels!
January marks an important month for the open source community in Europe, with a series of opportunities to collaborate through workshops, get-togethers, and ad hoc events. To celebrate the year of achievements and contributions to open source excellence, the European Open Source Awards brings industry leads, open source pioneers, advocates and open source enthusiasts in a one-of-a-kind event. By honouring distinguished open source change makers, who made a mark on European open source software and hardware, the Awards ceremony showcases the best of those leading the European digital transformation.
Coming back to Brussels, the European Open Source Awards are celebrating more open source contributors than ever before! This year, the following Prizes and Special Recognitions will be awarded to the remarkable European open source individuals in the following categories:
The Prize for Excellence in Open Source Software, aka ‘The European Open Source Prize’ – Recognising outstanding impact in open source software development, technical leadership, and sustained excellence over at least ten years.
Special Recognitions:
- Outstanding Achievement in Business and Impact – Honouring individuals who have demonstrated excellence in open source innovation, commercialisation, and impact.
- Outstanding Achievement in Advocacy and Awareness – Honouring individuals advancing open source policy impact, recognition, and awareness.
- Outstanding Achievement in Skills and Education – Honouring individuals who have pioneered educational projects or initiatives advancing open source skills, education, knowledge
- Outstanding Achievement in Community Impact – Honoring communities that embody collaborative innovation and sustainability, and which have made a demonstrable positive impact on the open source ecosystem or in advancing the interests of open source collaboration and innovation.
Trust-IT’s Role
Trust-IT Services supports the European Open Source Awards 2026 by leading the communication, dissemination, and promotional activities associated with the project and event, with the objective of maximising its visibility, reach, and impact across the European open source ecosystem. Trust-IT contributes to the design and implementation of targeted outreach actions, the development of clear and engaging communication assets, and the promotion of the Awards to relevant stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, open source communities, and advocates.
The European Open Source Awards are an invitation-only event. Nonetheless, we welcome expressions of interest to attend. For more information about the agenda or how to express interest in participation, please visit the European Open Source Academy website.