[Phoenix, AZ] — As announced in November, beginning with the 2026 award cycle, The Alliance for Performance Excellence and the Baldrige Foundation will assume the majority of the Baldrige Program’s operations, with the Alliance now managing and administering the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (original press release here). The Alliance has a vision that builds off the “Baldrige Reimagined” effort, further streamlining, simplifying, and improving the value of the national Award process.
Before the holidays, the Alliance conducted four focus groups, engaging nearly 60 participants, to gather feedback on proposed changes to the 2026 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
The focus groups reflected on five goals that guide the proposed 2026 changes:
- Maintain historical strengths (while strengthening the brand)
- Enhance the experience for applicants and examiners
- Increase alignment & integration within full Baldrige Enterprise
- Streamline and simplify the Award process
- Grow the pipeline (applicants and finalists, potentially recipients)
The discussions explored four main changes:
- Modifying 2026 Award eligibility
- Simplifying & integrating the national Award process with Alliance member evaluation
processes, creating a more seamless experience - Improve other aspects of the process (to benefit both applicant-customers and examiners)
- Expand to new Award category(ies) to grow participation
Based on the focus groups’ validation of the vision for 2026, the Alliance is launching seven committees, sub-committees, and task forces this month to begin to (re)design elements of the national Award process. One of the main changes is to push back the evaluation calendar in 2026, with examiner applications available later this spring and applicant submissions due early summer. Specific dates – and other details regarding changes in eligibility, the Award Criteria, pricing, and the evaluation process itself – will be announced by the Alliance in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit the Baldrige Award page on Alliance’s website (at
https://baldrigealliance.org/baldrige-award) or inquire at info@baldrigealliance.org
About The Alliance for Performance Excellence: The Alliance for Performance Excellence is the umbrella organization for regional Baldrige-based programs across the United States. The Alliance works to foster a culture of excellence through the promotion of the Baldrige Excellence Framework, providing resources, training, and recognition to organizations seeking to enhance their performance.
