Habermaass Prize for Early Education 2026
EECERA Call for Nominations
About the Award
The Habermaass Prize for Early Education is an international award recognising outstanding contributions to the quality, understanding, innovation, professionalisation, and future development of early childhood education.
The Prize recognises excellence in:
- Educational Research
- Training, Teaching & Professional Development
- Best Practice & Innovation
- Digital Early Learning & Future Skills
In addition, an Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement may be presented in recognition of an exceptional long-term contribution to the field.
Each of the four main categories carries a prize of €20,000.
EECERA’s Role
EECERA has been invited by the Habermaass Foundation to participate as an approved nominating organisation.
The Habermaass Prize accepts nominations only through recognised nominating organisations and individuals invited by the Foundation.
As part of this process, EECERA is inviting nominations from its membership for consideration.
All nominations received will be reviewed by an EECERA selection committee. Following this review, EECERA will identify any candidates to be formally nominated to the Habermaass Prize.
The final award decisions are made by the Habermaass Prize Committee.
Who is the nominee and who is the nominator?
• The nominee is the person or organisation being proposed for recognition.
• The nominator is the EECERA member submitting the nomination.
• In the case of a self-nomination, the nominee and nominator are the same person.
• Following review of all submissions, EECERA may formally nominate selected candidates to the Habermaass Prize for international consideration.
This means that a nomination submitted to EECERA is an application for consideration by EECERA and does not automatically constitute a formal nomination to the Habermaass Prize.
An Opportunity for EECERA Members
While the Habermaass Prize itself accepts nominations only through recognised nominating organisations, EECERA has chosen to invite nominations from its membership as part of its selection process.
This means that members may put themselves forward for consideration or nominate another current EECERA member whose work they believe merits recognition. N.B. An EECERA member must be paid up for 2026 prior to 24th June to be eligible to participate.
The EECERA selection committee will review all nominations received and identify candidates to be formally nominated by EECERA for international consideration.
How the Process Works
Stage 1 – EECERA Nomination Process
Members submit nominations to EECERA using the online form. A guidance sheet has been prepared to assist this process.
Nominations may only by made by a current EECERA member. Self nominations are allowed, or they may nominate another member or an organisation affiliated to a member or that have engaged in EECERA outputs.
Stage 2 – EECERA Selection Process
The EECERA selection process will be made up of a small group of Board of Trustee members. They will review all nominations received and select candidates to be formally nominated by EECERA. The decision of the EECERA Board of Trustees is final in which, if any, nominations it will take forward; No feedback will be provided
Stage 3 – Habermaass Prize Process
Selected nominations are forwarded by EECERA to the Habermaass Prize Committee for international consideration.
The Habermaass Prize Committee makes the final award decisions. Please refer to the Habermaas Foundation website for full details.
Eligibility
To be considered by EECERA:
- Nominators must be current paid-up members of EECERA (on or before 24th June 2026).
- Nominees must be a current EECERA member, an organisation affiliated to a member or an organisation involved in an EECERA output
- EECERA members may only make one nomination per category.
- Each nomination must be submitted in one category only.
- A separate form is required for each nomination.
- Nominations must be received by the published deadline.
Award Categories
Category 1 – Educational Research
Scientific and scholarly contributions that significantly advance understanding of early childhood education, child development, learning, pedagogy, policy, or practice.
Category 2 – Training, Teaching & Professional Development
Outstanding programmes, initiatives, institutions, or contributions that strengthen professional learning, educator development, leadership, or workforce quality.
Category 3 – Best Practice & Innovation
Outstanding pedagogical concepts, projects, initiatives, settings, or organisations that demonstrate innovation, excellence, and potential to inform or inspire wider practice.
Category 4 – Digital Early Learning & Future Skills
Responsible, child-centred, future-oriented approaches that support children’s learning, participation, wellbeing, and engagement with the opportunities and challenges of a changing world.
Honorary Award – Lifetime Achievement
Recognition of an exceptional long-term contribution to early childhood education through research, practice, leadership, advocacy, policy, mentoring, professional service, or innovation.
Nomination Form
To minimise duplication and ensure consistency with the international award process, EECERA is using the official Habermaass Prize nomination form questions for its internal selection process. If successful the text submitted in this form will be sent on to the Habermaas prize committee for consideration – there will no opportunity for revisions.
Members should complete the nomination form and submit it directly to EECERA by the published deadline (10th July 2026).
Members may only make one nomination per category.
Following review, selected nominations will be forwarded by EECERA to the Habermaass Prize Committee for international consideration.
Submission of Nominations
Nomination forms should be completed at: Habermass Awards nomination form for EECERA members 2026.
Guidance for Nominators and Nominees
A separate guidance document has been prepared to support the completion of nominations and to help nominators and nominees present their work clearly and effectively.
Timeline
| Date | Process |
| June 2026 | Call for nominations issued |
| 10 July 2026 | Closing date for nominations to EECERA |
| July 2026 | EECERA review and selection process |
| 31st July 2026 | Selected nominations forwarded to Habermaass: |
| October 2026 | Habermaass Prize Ceremony, Munich |