Applications open for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Research Excellence Awards 2026
Applications for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Research Excellence Awards 2026 are now open.
The awards celebrate the real-world impact of secure data research within ONS trusted research environments. They recognise the outstanding work that informs policy, improves services, and delivers public benefit.
Whether you have created new datasets, advanced research methods, or contributed new insights that shape decision-making, we encourage you to apply.
The five award categories for this year’s awards are:
- Impact of Analysis – for research with strong methods, collaboration, and public benefit
- Government-led Impact – for cross-sector projects led by UK departments
- Administrative Data Research (ADR) UK Excellence in Methods Award – to recognise and celebrate research that demonstrates excellence in research methods
- Data Creation – for those building or enhancing secure datasets
- ONS People’s Choice – a public vote open to all eligible entries
Please also help us celebrate outstanding research by sharing this opportunity with researchers working with ONS-managed data and encouraging them to apply.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact the Research Excellence Awards team at
Did you know that your entry for the ONS Research Excellence Awards could also form the basis of a successful nomination for the Analysis in Government (AiG) Awards? If you’re considering submitting an entry for the “Impact of Analysis Award”, or the “Government-led Impact of Analysis Award” you could have the beginnings of a winning AiG nomination! You could even use artificial intelligence (AI) to help you tailor your nomination to meet the criteria for the relevant AiG award category.