Key dates and events for 2026
Nomination phase
4 November 2025 – Individual award nominations open
4 November 2025 – Organisation award nominations open
2 February 2026 – Individual award nominations close at 4pm
27 February 2026 – Organisation award nominations close at 4pm
Visit our Eligibility and Selection Criteria page for details on eligibility.
Interview selection
February to March 2026
Once individual nominations close on Monday 2 February at 4pm, all nominations will be assessed by Regional Training Services teams. All eligible nominations will be submitted to judging panels for shortlisting.
All individual nominees will be advised of the outcome of their nomination within one month of nomination closing date. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to attend a Regional Interview during March 2026, where finalists and winners will be determined. 3 finalists from each category will be invited to attend the Regional Training Awards presentation for their region.
Regional phase
To learn more about your region, please visit Regional Training Awards.
May to June 2026 - Presentation
All Regional Training Awards presentations will be held during May and June 2026.
| Region | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| New England | 15 May 2026 | Tamworth Town Hall |
| Southern & South Western Sydney | 21 May 2026 | Liverpool Powerhouse |
| North Coast & Mid North Coast | 22 May 2026 | Lennox Head Cultural Centre |
| Riverina | 25 May 2026 | Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre |
| Western Sydney & Blue Moutnains | 28 May 2026 | Pioneer Theatre Castle Hill |
| Illawarra & South East NSW | 29 May 2026 | Shellharbour Civic Centre |
| Central & Northern Sydney | 4 June 2026 | The Independent Theatre |
| Hunter & Central Coast | 5 June 2026 | Newcastle City Hall |
| Western NSW | 11 June 2026 | Orange Civic Centre |
State phase
29 June to 3 July 2026 – State Interviews
Winners from each Regional Training Awards presentation must attend the State Interviews held in the last week of June/first week of July 2026. The NSW Training Awards State Team will be in touch to support you in the preparation for these interviews.
Finalists and Winners will be determined at this interview stage. 3 finalists from each category will be invited to attend the NSW Training Awards presentation in Sydney during National Skills Week 2026, where winners will be announced.
25 August 2026 – State Presentation
All finalists for both individual and organisation categories are expected to attend the 2026 NSW Training Awards presentation where winners will be announced.
Individual winners automatically become Australian Training Awards finalists*, will be invited to attend professional development training, and will interview to compete at a national level.
Organisation winners will be submitted to the Australian Training Awards for an additional shortlisting process. The Australian Training Awards will reach out to all organisation winners from NSW to advise of shortlisting outcomes by October 2026. Shortlisted organisations will be invited to attend the Australian Training Awards Gala Dinner.
Note: VET in Schools Student of the Year does not continue to the national level, as it is a state-only category. The Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector award must go through an additional shortlisting process by the Australian Training Awards and may proceed to the national level.
Further information can be found on State Training Awards.
National phase
September/October 2026 - Professional Development
Individual winners will be invited to attend professional development training in Sydney to prepare them for the Australian Training Awards interviews which will be held in October/November 2026.
November/December 2026 - Australian Training Awards
Individual winners will be invited to attend Ambassador Week and the Australian Training Awards Gala Dinner in November/December 2026, where national winners will be announced.
Further information can be found on Australian Training Awards.