The Awards were created to recognize and elevate extraordinary individuals whose work is improving humanity across healthcare, education, justice, sustainability, technology, human dignity, and humanitarian leadership. The mission is to spotlight meaningful, measurable global impact while helping amplify the ideas, leadership, and movements shaping a more equitable and hopeful future.
The inaugural ceremony takes place on December 9, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Related leadership and VIP programming will take place the preceding evening in connection with the United Nations.
The Awards convene approximately 2,800 leaders across business, philanthropy, government, technology, media, culture, and civil society. The program will also reach a significantly broader global audience through livestream, media coverage, and digital amplification.
The Awards will honor 12 individuals across 12 distinct categories including Healthcare Innovation, Tech for Good, Climate & Sustainability, Humanitarian Leadership, Criminal Justice Reform, Education Impact, Care & Human Dignity, and other fields advancing societal progress globally.
Your work was identified through global research, recommendations, and impact analysis focused on leaders demonstrating meaningful innovation, measurable societal benefit, and field influence — strongly aligned with the mission and values of the GSIA.
You were identified through extensive global research recognizing individuals and organizations driving meaningful, measurable impact. Your leadership and contributions stood out as strongly aligned with the GSIA mission.
Selection is guided by a curated advisory and review group of leaders across business, philanthropy, media, policy, innovation, and global social impact. Honorees are evaluated on the scale, authenticity, innovation, and measurable societal impact of their work, as well as their broader contribution toward improving humanity.
As 2026 represents the inaugural Global Social Impact Awards, there are no prior recipients. The Awards are being established as a premier annual global platform recognizing 12 extraordinary individuals across 12 categories. The platform will run annually across different countries each year.
The Global Social Impact Awards are produced by Culture Shift Labs (CSL), a social impact and social innovation consultancy — in collaboration with global partners and on behalf of the United Nations for the 2026 programme. CSL also produces a flagship summit series annually.
Yes. Recommendations and nominations may be submitted through the Awards platform and through outreach conducted by the advisory and research teams.
Honorees are selected through a combination of independent research, nominations, recommendations, and advisory review. Selection is based on measurable impact, integrity, innovation, scalability of influence, and contribution toward advancing humanity.
There are no nomination fees or costs associated with the selection process. Honorees are invited guests of the Awards. Attendance details, guest allocations, and programme logistics will be shared directly with selected honorees following confirmation of participation.
Selected honorees are required to attend in person, accept their award on the stage of Carnegie Hall, and give a 3-minute speech. Each recipient will receive their award from a high profile individual. Honorees will be asked to participate in a rehearsal. Honorees may be asked to walk the red carpet and give interviews.
Attendees include leaders across business, philanthropy, government, technology, media, culture, civil society, and international organizations, alongside honorees and invited guests from around the world.
The 2026 Global Social Impact Awards are being convened to the benefit of the United Nations in collaboration with Culture Shift Labs and global partners supporting the mission of advancing humanity through leadership, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
The long-term vision is to build one of the world’s leading platforms recognizing individuals improving humanity — creating a global ecosystem that elevates impactful leadership, fosters collaboration, and inspires meaningful action across sectors and borders.
No. The Awards are nonpartisan and globally focused, centered on recognizing individuals whose work positively impacts humanity regardless of geography, politics, or sector.
Yes. The Global Social Impact Awards are being established as an annual international platform, with plans to expand to different global host cities and regions in future years.
2026 will not have a livestream. The Awards are expected to receive international media attention and will include digital amplification intended to reach a global audience.
GSIA's ultimate strategic position: "The world's most prestigious recognition platform honoring individuals improving humanity." Not a conference. Not a summit. Not a grant competition — a globally recognized cultural institution for social impact leadership.