Industry Insights
03 Jan 2026
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SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence 2026 Now Open for Entries – Deadline February 26
The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in journalism and press freedom across Asia. SOPA today announced the official opening of submissions for the "2026 Awards for Editorial Excellence." The deadline for entries is Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM Hong Kong time.
First awarded in 1999, this year marks the 28th edition of the Awards for Editorial Excellence, widely recognized as the "Pulitzer Prizes of Asia," and regarded as the most prestigious journalism awards in the region, honoring outstanding reporting that upholds truth, integrity, and accountability. The awards span 21 categories across English, Chinese, and Indonesian languages, recognizing both regional and global publishing organizations.
In 2025, the SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence attracted over 700 entries across 21 categories, with submissions from regional and local divisions increasing by nearly 20%.
The SOPA Awards continue to provide an important platform for small and independent media outlets across the Asia-Pacific region to showcase original investigative reporting. In the 2025 SOPA Awards, The Wire won the top prize in the Regional/Local category for its report "Breaking The Nets," which the judges praised for offering "deep insight into the cascading impacts of patriarchy in Indian society" and exploring how women navigate these challenges. Other notable winning entries included Mekong Eye’s investigative series "Cattle Hustle," which received the top honor in the Investigative Reporting category for the Regional/Local division.
SOPA will continue to offer financial support to first-time entrants and small media organizations with no more than 20 full-time staff, at least 50% of whom are editorial staff. Each eligible organization may receive subsidies for up to two entries, with each entry costing HK$200 (approximately USD 25). Organizations should contact SOPA in advance via email at [email protected] to confirm eligibility. Mekong Eye was one of the supported organizations in 2025.
In the 2025 awards, The Wall Street Journal won the SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism for its report "A Vicious New Scam Industry Metastasizes," which detailed the brutal realities of global "pig-butchering" romance scam operations.
Rich Barbieri, Deputy Business & Economics Editor for Asia at The New York Times and Co-Chair of SOPA's Editorial Committee, said: “The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence have always represented the highest standards in journalism and will continue to serve as a vital platform recognizing courageous and innovative reporting across Asia.”
This year’s awards are being organized by a newly formed five-member Executive Committee led by veteran journalist Chris Yeung (Yang Jianxing), alongside Jeffrey Timmermans, Edith Terry, Harry Surjadi, and Huan-Yu Chien. The committee members bring extensive experience in editing, reporting, and organizing in English, Chinese, and Indonesian. They will oversee every stage of the judging process. All entries submitted annually undergo rigorous evaluation and are scored by more than 100 respected judges—journalists, former journalists, and journalism academics from around the world—who will continue to ensure the awards uphold the highest standards of independence, transparency, and fairness.
Telum Media is the supporting partner for the 2026 awards.
SOPA is currently offering a 60% discount for new membership applications (https://sopasia.com/membership/), available for a limited period. New members will also receive a 60% discount on non-member entry fees, capped at five entries. To apply for membership and receive the “new member” discount code, please email [email protected] by Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
Existing members may request their membership discount code by emailing [email protected] by Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
Detailed information about submissions, eligibility, and applications is available at: www.sopawards.com.
2026 Award Categories
Award Categories:
Excellence in Reporting on Women’s IssuesExcellence in Innovation in News ReportingExcellence in Audio ReportingExcellence in Video ReportingExcellence in Human Rights ReportingExcellence in Feature WritingExcellence in Science and Technology ReportingExcellence in Magazine DesignExcellence in Arts and Culture ReportingSOPA Award for Indonesian Language News ReportingExcellence in Explanatory ReportingExcellence in Business and Economic ReportingExcellence in Data VisualizationExcellence in Breaking NewsExcellence in Opinion/Editorial WritingExcellence in Environmental ReportingExcellence in PhotographyExclusive News AwardExcellence in Investigative ReportingSOPA Best New Journalist Award (one winner selected from both English and Chinese divisions)SOPA Award for Public Service JournalismAbout the Society of Publishers in Asia
The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) is a Hong Kong-based non-profit organization founded in 1982, committed to defending press freedom, encouraging excellence in journalism, and recognizing best practices among publishers in the Asia-Pacific region. Today, SOPA advocates for media and publishing industries across Asia, consistently upholding journalistic standards and freedoms while celebrating and supporting professional journalism and publishing. The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence are the organization’s flagship annual event, setting benchmarks for quality and professionalism in Asian journalism, having been held consecutively for 27 years since 1999.
www.sopasia.com; www.sopawards.com; SOPA LinkedIn, SOPA Facebook, SOPA X
