AI Networking Summit
Best-in-Show Awards

October 28-29, 2026 | New York City
Produced by ONUG

Get Recognized for Your AI Innovations

Submit your intent to enter by October 2 and application by October 14.
APPLY

Here's How the AI Networking Summit Best-in-Show Awards Process Works:

Award Categories

Networking: Products enhancing performance and operational efficiency

Cybersecurity: Solutions that defend AI infrastructure and applications against threats

AI Infrastructure: Breakthroughs in full-stack design, operations, and manageability

Automation: Agentic AI, observability, orchestration, and solutions that drive intelligent operations

Networking, cybersecurity, and AI infrastructure categories are part of the Fall 2026 Challenge: One Control Plane, Every Domain.

Automation is available for a product that automates enterprise network or IT operations.

Submission Process

AI Networking Summit Sponsors are invited to participate in the Best-in-Show Awards.

Ensure your networking, cybersecurity, and AI infrastructure submission satisfies the controls in the Fall 2026 Challenge: One Control Plane, Every Domain. Pick a lane, which aligns with one of ONUG's Collaborative Working Groups, and submit a video that shows how your innovations satisfy that lane's controls. Your video will play on loop in the Collaborative Center and networking areas throughout the Summit, and your booth will be part of the Challenge Walks, which sends attendees to entrants' booths.

To submit for the automation category, showcase your product's innovation, impact, and alignment with the automation.

Judging Criteria

The awards recognize standout products that are easily deployable in large-scale enterprise IT environments and deliver tangible business value.

New for New York 2026: Enterprise IT attendees will review submissions and vote based on the following criteria.

⇒ Fall 2026 Challenge - Networking, Security, and AI Infrastructure categories are judged against the Collaborative Working Group's reference architecture.

⇒ Innovation, Differentiation, Business Value - Breakthrough technologies, designs, and implementations with unique value propositions and measurable ROI.

Best in Show Award Winners Receive Worldwide Recognition:

  • Announced during special ceremony at AI Networking Summit in New York
  • Announced during a special Built for Trust Podcast
  • Minimum of 2 social media posts across LinkedIn, X, and Facebook
  • All winners will be highlighted in a press release after the Event

Award Eligibility

  • Companies submitting products for consideration must be a sponsor of the AI Networking Summit.
  • If the product submitted is not yet generally available, then GA should be scheduled no later than Q2–2027.
  • Each company can submit one video or product for consideration, per award category (Networking, Cybersecurity, AI Infrastructure, Automation).
  • Enterprise IT attendees will vote on one Best of Show Award winner per category. Voting closes at 1:00 pm ET on Thursday, October 29, at the end of the last Challenge Walk
Submission Details
Categories: Networking, Cybersecurity, AI Infrastructure
Intent to Enter Deadline: October 2, 2026
Submission Deadline: October 14, 2026
  • Show how your product satisfies one of the 3 lanes' controls in the Fall 2026 demo.
  • Submit a playable video that will be shown on a loop in the Collaborative Center and networking areas throughout the Summit.
  • Discuss your solution with attendees during the Challenge Walks taking place on the show floor at the Summit.
Key Dates:
- Friday, October 2: intent to enter (email bill@onug.net, jesi@onug.net, and copy peter@onug.net with the subject line: Fall26 demo intent - *your company name*
- Wednesday, October 14: video due
ENTER THE CHALLENGE
Category: Automation
Submission Deadline: October 14, 2026
  • A written overview (500 words or less) that describes how the product or solution aligns with the judging criteria.
  • A 5-slide PPT presentation that should include any additional information needed to bolster claims about product innovation, differentiation and business value.
  • A 5-minute video (recorded on Zoom), which is your elevator pitch to the enterprise IT attendees.
APPLY FOR AUTOMATION