Call for Entries: Club 2026 Journalism Awards still open
The National Press Club is now accepting entries for its annual Journalism Awards, recognizing exceptional reporting and storytelling produced in 2025.
Journalists from across the United States are invited to submit their work.
The deadline for submissions is May 4, 2026. Full contest details, eligibility requirements, and past award winners can be found here.
“For more than a century, the National Press Club has honored journalism that serves the public interest, holds power to account, and strengthens democracy,” said NPC President Mike Balsamo. “At a time when the work is harder and the stakes are higher, these awards recognize the rigor, courage, and impact of journalists committed to informing the public despite mounting challenges.”
New for the 2026 competition, every award category will carry a $1,000 cash prize. This update reflects the Club’s commitment to directly recognizing journalistic excellence across all categories.
The 2026 Journalism Awards include 15 categories spanning a wide range of editorial excellence, including politics, breaking news, investigative reporting, global affairs, multimedia journalism, and news photography. A complete list of categories is available here.
Entries may be submitted by individual journalists or by their employers.
“These awards celebrate journalism that not only informs audiences, but also sparks dialogue and drives accountability,” Balsamo added. “We are honored to recognize the journalists whose work makes a lasting impact on the public conversation.”
Winners are expected to be recognized at the 53rd Annual National Press Club Journalism Awards Dinner, to be held Aug. 26 at the Club in Washington, D.C.