IDC’s Smart Cities North America Awards
Smart Cities catalyze the digital transformation of urban ecosystems to produce systemic environmental, financial, and social outcomes. Smart Cities are, by definition, focused on using emerging technologies and innovation to make cities more livable, and offer new services and economic opportunities.
IDC’s 2026 Smart Cities and Communities North America Awards – Call for Nominations
Join us for the 9th year of the IDC Smart Cities and Communities Awards program!
Smart cities and communities are state and local governments at the forefront of technology innovation and adoption. Working across departments and with the public, smart cities are the catalyst for urban transformation that creates new services, intelligent operations, and community resiliency.
IDC’s Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA) recognize innovative and impactful projects and initiatives across municipalities, states, provinces and K12 and higher education that are transforming communities through technology and innovation. These awards showcase best practices in partnerships, funding models, community engagement, and the use of technology and data to deliver measurable benefits for residents, students, businesses, and visitors. Today, that transformation increasingly includes AI and Generative AI, enabling governments to deliver human-centered, secure, and efficient services. We are looking for deployed initiatives that use technology to solve challenges in interesting ways.
-
Why Participate?
The IDC Smart Cities Awards bring together people who are passionate about their work and provide an opportunity to be recognized as well as to learn and share with peers.
Winners and finalists receive:
- An invitation to Smart Cities Connect in Raleigh, NC, March 10-12, 2026, for an awards ceremony and IDC reception. Winners receive an award and a speaking opportunity during the awards ceremony.
- One hour of IDC analyst expertise to use in 2026. Winners also receive an IDC report of their choice.
- A social media kit and coverage in IDC blogs and publications.
- Current IDC clients are featured in a Winner’s Spotlight with opportunities for participation in online events and webinars.
For more details contact Ann Whiting / awhiting@idc.com
-
The Nomination Process
It is free to apply, and the online application takes 15–20 minutes to complete. Anyone can nominate a project, but only the public sector organization that implemented the project is eligible to win the award.
Deadline to complete is January 15, 2026.
We are looking for:
- Implemented projects (not ideas or planned initiatives) that leverage emerging technologies— such as AI, GenAI, edge computing, cloud—to solve real challenges.
- Initiatives that improve livability, resiliency, and economic opportunity for communities while fostering accessible, user friendly experiences and services.
IDC’s 2026 Smart Cities North America Awards will be presented at an awards ceremony at the Smart Cities Connect conference being held March 10-12 in Raleigh, NC. Please note the IDC Smart Cities Awards are separate from the Smart Cities Connect Smart 20 awards.
To learn more about Smart Cities Connect please visit spring.smartcitiesconnect.org.
Award Categories
With 10 categories, you may select your project to be eligible for more than one category – but not more than three. From each category, three projects will be announced as finalists prior to the selection of the category winner.