Have you achieved outstanding results by implementing circular practices in your company or organisation? Are you developing innovative circular products, services, or business models? Or are you helping bring the circular economy closer to your community through advocacy, research, education, or local initiatives?

Applications for the Circular Economy Awards 2026 are currently open.

The Awards are one of the flagship initiatives of the Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub (WBCEH), created to recognise and celebrate pioneers, innovators, and changemakers advancing circular economy solutions across the region.

Following a successful first edition in 2025, which attracted 55 applications from all six Western Balkan economies, the initiative has proven to be much more than an awards programme. Beyond recognising outstanding circular leaders, the Awards also helped us identify inspiring initiatives across the region, connect with new organisations and professionals, and establish collaborations that later became part of WBCEH activities, events, and project applications.

We invite you to explore the seven award categories and see whether your work, initiative or organisation could be a good fit.

This year, applications are open across seven categories:

• Circular Economy Pioneer Award – apply here
• Corporate Leadership in Circular Economy – apply here
• Innovative Circular Design Award – apply here
• Municipal Circular Leadership Award – apply here
• Civil Society Circular Economy Award – apply here
• Circular Economy Education and Research Award – apply here
• Circular Start-Up Award – apply here

We encourage you to consider applying and to share the call with other organisations, companies, municipalities, researchers, designers, start-ups and individuals whose work could be relevant to one of the categories.

The application deadline is 10 September 2026.

You can find detailed information about the categories, criteria, and application process in the attached document and on the website.

For any questions regarding the Awards or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us at regionalcehub@gmail.com