2026 Categories
Important information for entering
The CRN Best of the Channel Awards celebrates the exceptional achievements of channel leaders and best of breed companies in the IT channel. Winners are announced in-person at the Best of the Channel Awards Ceremony on October 13, 2026.
All entries MUST be submitted electronically through the online portal. Email entries will NOT be accepted. Entries with incomplete or insufficient responses may be disqualified.
The deadline for entries is May 19, 2026 at 11:55 p.m.
Good luck!
3 New Categories in 2026!
Click on any category below to expand and apply
Deadline: May 19, 2026
Company / Team Awards
Best Channel Team of the Year
This award recognizes a group of channel management leaders from a technology vendor, distributor or marketplace for its efforts to help its channel ecosystem succeed over the last 12 months.
Best Channel Marketing Team of the Year
This award will honor an outstanding group responsible for marketing at a vendor, distributor or marketplace that can quantify the generated demand and increased brand or project awareness they drove for their channel business and that of their solution provider partners over the last 12 months.
Best AI Solution Provider
The Best AI Solution Provider of the Year award recognizes an MSP, VAR, systems integrator, consultant or other solution provider business for overall excellence and technical acumen in delivering AI-focused solutions to end customers over the last 12 months.
Best Solution Provider of the Year
The Best Solution Provider of the Year Award celebrates an MSP, VAR, systems integrator, consultant or other type of solution provider for overall excellence in business and technology acumen over the last 12 months.
Best Solution Provider Team of the Year
The Best Solution Provider Team of the Year Award spotlights a group of company executives at an MSP, VAR, systems integrator, consultant or other type of solution provider for over excellence in business leadership.
Best Vendor of the Year
The Best Vendor of the Year Award recognizes an IT manufacturer for overall excellence in channel partnership over the last 12 months.
NEW! Best AI Vendor of the Year
The Best AI Vendor of the Year award recognizes an IT manufacturer for overall excellence in channel partnership in delivering AI-focused offerings to market through the indirect channel.
NEW! Best Security Solution Provider of the Year
The Best Security Solution Provider of the Year award recognizes an MSP, VAR, systems integrator, consultant or other solution provider business for overall excellence and technical acumen in delivering IT security-focused solutions to end customers.
NEW! Best Security Vendor of the Year
The Best Security Vendor of the Year award recognizes an IT manufacturer for overall excellence in channel partnership in delivering security-focused offerings to market through the indirect channel.
Individual Awards
Best Channel Chief of the Year
This award will go the channel executive most deserving of recognition for achievements in the IT channel over the past 12 months as an all-around standout in channel acumen and leadership. Executives who are the top global or North America/U.S. channel leader at an IT vendor are eligible.
Best Channel Visionary of the Year
The Best Channel Visionary of the Year Award celebrates a trailblazing executive with a fresh business perspective who has shown outstanding capacity to instigate channel evolution for their company and/or the channel at large over the last 12 months. Applicants from solution providers, technology vendors, distributors and marketplaces are eligible.
Best Solution Provider CEO of the Year
This award will go the top executive who is most deserving of recognition for achievements in leading a solution provider business over the past 12 months. CEOs of MSPs, VARs, systems integrators, consultants or other solution providers headquartered in North America are eligible.
Best Channel Achiever of the Year
The Best Channel Achiever of the Year Award honors an individual for exceptional performance, significant contributions and notable accomplishments throughout the past 12 months that were instrumental to the success of their channel-focused organization. Applicants from solution providers, technology vendors, distributors and marketplaces are eligible.
Best Emerging Leader of the Year
The Best Emerging Leader of the Year Award goes to a promising up-and-comer in the channel who is on the path to channel greatness. This may be a newer employee who has made an exceptionally strong impact in a short time or an early-career manager/executive making waves throughout the business over the last 12 months. Applicants from solution providers, technology vendors, distributors and marketplaces are eligible.
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