The application window to join the CX Awards 2026 judging panel is officially open. We are actively searching for customer experience experts to help us establish the definitive benchmark for industry excellence.
If you want to steer the conversation on what true CX innovation looks like, I encourage you to apply below:
What the Role Entails
The integrity of the CX Awards 2026 relies entirely on our panel of judges. We expect our panel to look past the marketing hype and evaluate submissions based on hard evidence. This means weighing up measurable outcomes and genuine technological advancement across the customer journey.
The evaluation period has been streamlined to respect your schedule, requiring just a few hours of your time in early October. During this window, you will be responsible for independent, blind scoring. We demand absolute neutrality from all judges, meaning you must be free of any commercial conflicts of interest. For a quick overview of what to expect, watch the explainer below:
Once the initial scoring is complete, selected judges must be prepared to defend their decisions. The debates that happen during our shortlist deliberations are consistently some of the most valuable discussions in the CX space.
Who We Are Looking For
We need analysts, senior practitioners, and customer experience experts who possess a sharp, informed perspective on the market. If your day-to-day involves making procurement decisions, overseeing large-scale contact center rollouts, or advising brands on their CX technology stacks, your voice belongs on this panel.
Rob Wilkinson and I are committed to assembling a group that reflects the actual realities of enterprise buying. If you can instantly spot the difference between a transformative platform and a polished sales pitch, you are exactly the kind of professional we want.
Why These Awards Matter
Navigating the customer experience technology landscape has never been more complicated. While vendors are looking for credible recognition of their hard work, enterprise buyers are desperately seeking clarity on what actually delivers results in production.
The CX Awards 2026 are designed to answer a single, vital question: who is genuinely driving the future of customer experience?
Our goal is to provide a transparent, independent standard that the global industry can rely on. That level of trust is built from the ground up, starting with the caliber of our judges.
A New Structure for a New Era
To keep pace with a rapidly evolving market, we have expanded this year’s programme to 25 categories organized across six distinct layers. The era of isolated customer touchpoints is over; today’s focus is on seamless, interconnected journeys.
Our updated categories now span Core Platforms, Transformation (featuring AI and Automation), Trust and Infrastructure, Engagement & Advocacy, and People & Momentum.
We have also launched a brand-new Enterprise Impact track, created specifically to celebrate the in-house teams and end-user organizations that are successfully putting these technologies to work. We need customer experience experts with deep, specialized knowledge to properly evaluate these real-world deployments.
Submit Your Application
Are you prepared to join our panel of judges and help define what excellence looks like at the CX Awards 2026? Click the button below to start your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are looking for customer experience experts, including senior practitioners, industry analysts, and enterprise buyers who have experience procuring, deploying, or advising on CX technology.
The judging window has been streamlined to require just a few hours of your time in early October. Judges will conduct independent, blind scoring and provide mandatory feedback on the entries they review.
Yes. To maintain the integrity of the CX Awards 2026, all judges must evaluate entries with absolute neutrality and be free of any commercial conflicts of interest regarding the submissions they score. Who can apply to be a judge for the CX Awards 2026?
What is the time commitment for CX Awards 2026 judges?
Are there any conflicts of interest rules for judges?
