Excellence takes centre stage at Annual Education Summit 2026 – Education today stands at the intersection of innovation, inclusion, employability and technology. As institutions navigate rapid shifts in learning, assessment, skills development and workforce readiness, recognising those leading meaningful change has never been more important.
It was in this spirit that The Economic Times Education hosted the 3rd Edition of the ETEducation Excellence Awards 2026, held alongside the ET Annual Education Summit 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi on 11th June 2026.
The awards brought together some of India’s most respected education leaders, policymakers, vice chancellors, school leaders, EdTech innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers to celebrate organisations and individuals who are setting new benchmarks for excellence across the education ecosystem.
More than just a recognition platform, the awards reflected the collective ambition of India’s education sector to build institutions that are future-ready, learner-centric, technology-enabled and globally competitive.
A summit that celebrated leadership, innovation and impact
The Annual Education Summit 2026 witnessed an extraordinary gathering of leaders from schools, universities, skilling organisations, industry and EdTech.
Throughout the day, thought-provoking discussions explored themes ranging from academic excellence and student success to AI, digital transformation, employability, sustainability, innovation and the future of learning.
Against this backdrop of thought leadership and collaboration, the ETEducation Excellence Awards 2026 honoured over 140 winners whose work is driving a measurable impact across India’s education landscape.
Recognising excellence across transformative categories
The awards recognised achievements across a diverse spectrum of categories, reflecting the breadth and depth of India’s evolving education ecosystem.
These included: Lifetime Achievement in Education; Visionary Early Childhood Leadership; Visionary K-12 School Leadership; Exemplary Principal Leadership; Leadership in Mentorship & Coaching; Visionary Higher Education Leadership; Transformational Academic Leadership; Strategic Leadership in Higher Education; Pioneering Educational Enterprise Leadership; Changemaker in Education – Social Impact Leader; Rising Star in Education Leadership; Excellence in Early Literacy & Numeracy – NEP-Aligned; Excellence in Global & 21st Century Skills Learning; Excellence in Infrastructure & Child-Centric Learning Environment; Excellence in Innovative & Experiential Pre-School Learning; Excellence in Inclusive Early Childhood Education; Excellence in Child Safety & Wellbeing; Outstanding Single-Campus Pre-School; Outstanding Preschool Franchisor; Trailblazing Multi-Campus Pre-School; Excellence in 21st-Century Skills & Career Readiness; Excellence in Academic Achievement & Learning Outcomes; Excellence in AI, Robotics & Responsible Emerging Technologies; Excellence in Arts, Culture & Creative Education; Excellence in Community & Social Impact; Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Maker Education; Excellence in Hybrid & Digital Learning; Excellence in Global Citizenship & International Learning; Excellence in Boarding & Residential Education; Excellence in Innovative & Experiential Teaching; Excellence in Learning Environments & Campus Design; Excellence in School Leadership & Parent Partnership; Excellence in Sports Development & Physical Education; Excellence in Student Wellbeing & Emotional Health; Transformational K-12 School Network; Excellence in Sustainability & Environmental Education; Excellence in Interdisciplinary & Project-Based Learning; Outstanding K-12 Network Campus; Excellence in STEAM Education & Innovation; Excellence in Legal Education; Excellence in Liberal Arts & Humanities Education; Excellence in Medical, Pharmaceutical & Allied Health Sciences Education; Excellence in Industry Partnerships & Graduate Employability; Excellence in Online & Distance Education; Excellence in Skill & Vocational Education; Excellence in Sports Education & Sports Sciences; Excellence in Sustainability & SDG Integration; Excellence in Sustainable Campus Infrastructure; Excellence in Business & Management Education; AI-Driven Education Innovator; Excellence in Assessment Solutions; Emerging EdTech Trailblazer; Excellence in Adaptive Learning; Excellence in Career Readiness & Placement Platforms; Excellence in EdTech Infrastructure & Enablement Platforms; Excellence in STEAM & Creative Learning Innovation; Excellence in Higher Education Services & Platforms; Excellence in Generative AI for Education; Excellence in Learning Experience Platforms; Excellence in School Consulting & Advisory; Excellence in Social Impact EdTech; Excellence in Sustainable Education Technology; Excellence in Teacher Professional Development; Excellence in Overseas Education Facilitation; Exemplary Independent Education Non-Profit; Pioneering EdTech Company; Transformative Skills & Employability Provider; and Transformative K–12 Education Innovator.
Each category represents a critical pillar of India’s education transformation journey – from leadership and governance to innovation, employability, sustainability, technology integration and student success.
To view the complete list of winners, click here: https://education.economictimes.indiatimes.com/education-excellence-awards/winners-list
A rigorous and credible jury process
The credibility of the ETEducation Excellence Awards rests on a transparent and robust evaluation framework.
All nominations underwent a comprehensive assessment process led by a distinguished panel of education leaders, academicians, policymakers, industry experts and practitioners. Entries were evaluated on parameters including innovation, impact, scalability, institutional outcomes, leadership vision, learner success, sustainability and future readiness.
The awards process ensured that recognition was rooted not merely in ambition, but in demonstrated excellence and measurable results.
The complete list of esteemed Jury members can be viewed here: https://education.economictimes.indiatimes.com/education-excellence-awards/award-jury
Their collective expertise and insights helped establish the ETEducation Excellence Awards as one of the most credible recognitions in India’s education ecosystem.
More than an award, a movement for educational excellence
The 3rd Edition of the ETEducation Excellence Awards 2026 was not merely a celebration of achievement. It was a reflection of a sector that is continuously reinventing itself to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
From early childhood education and school transformation to higher education, skilling and EdTech innovation, the award winners represent the very best of what Indian education can achieve when vision, innovation and impact come together.
As the curtains came down on the Annual Education Summit 2026 at Yashobhoomi, one message resonated strongly across the ecosystem:
The future of education belongs to institutions and leaders who are willing to innovate boldly, collaborate meaningfully and create lasting impact.
The ETEducation Excellence Awards continue to spotlight those pioneers who are not simply adapting to the future – but actively building it.
