Saying "Count Me In" on the Global Stage: The 2026 CX Awards Calendar and a Strategic Roadmap

In our latest episode, episode two of Nord CX’s Merak Defteri Podcast, we took a deep dive into this: with their operational muscle, agility and crisis management skills, Turkish companies are actually running neck and neck with the world’s giants — and sometimes even ahead of them. But when it comes to “packaging the story,” we tend to hold back.

Today is the day to shake off that reticence. Here’s what we’ve put together for you: the clearest paths to global prestige, insider tips and the 2026 calendar.

Why Bother?

Just to put a crystal plaque in the office? No. An international awards process is actually the cheapest and most effective “checkup” there is.

• Benchmarking: You get a clear view of what your competitors (or your peers around the world) are doing and where the bar is set.

• Feedback Report: The judges (and I’m one of them 🙂) don’t just score your project; they give you feedback such as “You’re strong here, but you’ve underused the data there.” This report amounts to consulting that money can’t buy.

• Talent Magnet: “Working on a world-champion team” is priceless for your employer brand.

• Inspiration: At these competitions, you get to see the industry’s best practices and enjoy a unique exchange of knowledge through international networking. The muses you need for your next project are wandering the halls of these competitions!

The “Big League” That Should Be on Your Radar in 2026

This year, 5 major competitions are open for entries, with countless categories:

1. International Customer Experience Awards (ICXA) - London

It is regarded as the “Oscars” of the CX world. It is the longest-established and most widely entered program. This platform, where many Turkish brands have flown the flag, is the first stop for global visibility. Atasun has delivered a keynote here and has served as chair of the judges for years; the projects and companies that compete in it are truly exceptional.

In 2026, entries opened at the end of February; the entry deadline is the end of August, and the finals take place at the end of October.

2. Customer Centricity World Series (CCWS) - World League

This is our favorite from a strategic standpoint, and the one that holds a “hidden opportunity” for Turkish companies. Why?

• The Matryoshka Model: You compete in two leagues with a single entry. The system pits you against both the global giants (World Series) and your regional peers (Regional Awards). You get the chance to say, “Even if I can’t be world champion, I’ll come home as the European regional champion.”

• Academic Rigor: The scoring model carries the approval of the business school at the University of Dundee in the UK. In other words, it’s not about who you know; rigorous math does the talking.

• A Prestigious Signature: The biggest advantage of this competition is its accreditation. Winning projects are certified by Customer Institute, one of the world’s most respected CX authorities, where Atasun serves as a director on the board. In other words, our signature backs the award, and that gives the crystal a seal of “academic credibility and global standing.” (And yes, Atasun is on this competition’s jury, too.)

• Timing: Entries remain open until early May; the conference and awards ceremony take place in October.

3. CMSWire Impact Awards

This competition, where Atasun is on the 2026 judging panel, stands out in one very important way. It accepts entries in two main categories! There are also separate categories for vendors in customer experience and CX technology. Türkiye, too, has very good CX vendors delivering great projects. Sometimes their clients may not have entered these competitions for one reason or another, but as vendors they can take the wheel of the entry process and showcase themselves on the international stage.

4. Gulf Customer Experience Awards (GCXA)

This is another competition where Atasun serves as chair of the judges, and one that, in Atasun’s view, holds significant opportunities. The Gulf Region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.) is one of the markets where Turkish companies (construction, retail, furniture, software) have the strongest presence.

If you have an operation or office in the Gulf region, or an export network serving the region, this is not an “away game” for you but a place where you can enjoy home-field advantage.

To take part, your project must involve customers, suppliers or business partners in the Gulf region.

Here’s some insider information: The appetite for digital transformation in the region is very high. Turkish companies’ technology- and people-focused approaches are seen as far more innovative than those of local competitors. It’s worth considering.

5. US Customer Experience Awards (USXA)

This is another prestigious competition where we are among the judges. There is one important point to watch out for: if your project has no concrete impact in the US market and you have no operations there, don’t enter simply on the grounds that “we did it and it turned out well.” You may fall short of the regional eligibility criteria.

3 Golden Tips from the Judge’s Chair

After reading hundreds of entries and watching countless presentations as Chair of Judges, Atasun has seen the fine lines that separate winners from losers. Here they are:

1. Choose Your Category with Precision: Entering your best project in the “wrong” category is like taking a Ferrari off-roading. Which category does your project’s story fit best — Innovation? Culture? Transformation? Choose strategically. And if you are entering more than one category, never copy-paste the same entry into the others. Each one has different criteria, so you must tailor every entry.

2. Pass the “So What?” Test: You’ve described the project and praised the technology. If the judges read it and think “So what?”, you’ve lost. If NPS went from 30 to 50, how many dollars did that earn the company? How much did churn fall? Back up the emotional story with hard numbers.

3. Skip the Bureaucratese: An entry form is not a petition; it’s a screenplay. Judges’ attention spans are limited. Build a beginning, a middle and a (striking) ending, and keep the writing flowing.

Have a great project but not sure how to package it? Or can’t tell which competition suits your goals? Don’t put your project at risk without talking to an experienced consultant!

Your project needs to become a “case study” that meets global standards. As we mentioned on the podcast, sometimes holding the diamond you already have in the right light is worth more than recutting it.

If you’re ready, 2026 could be your year.