NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
Administered by the Alliance for Performance Excellence on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
2026 Award Cycle Timeline
Key dates for the 2026 Baldrige Award cycle.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 19 | 2026 Award Cycle announced; Intent to Apply window opens |
| April 15, 8:00pm ET | Intent to Apply closes; nonrefundable deposits due |
| April 30, 8:00pm ET | Pathway 3 Alternative Eligibility pre-screen questions due |
| May 1, 8:00pm ET | Examiner applications due |
| May 30 | 2026 Baldrige Board of Examiners selected |
| July 1, 8:00pm ET | Full applications due (submitted through the applicant portal) |
| June 15–July 15 | Examiner training |
| July 15 | Examiner teams built and launched |
| July 15–August 31 | Preliminary evaluation and site visit preparation |
| September/October | Site visits |
| October/November | Judges deliberation; recommended recipients sent to the Department of Commerce |