Digital Preservation Awards 2026 Finalists Announced: The Research Data Alliance Award for the Most Outstanding Digital Preservation Initiative in Commerce, Industry and the Third sector

[Angela Puggioni]

The next set finalists for the prestigious Digital Preservation Awards 2026 are revealed today, with three exceptional initiatives which demonstrate digital preservation excellence in agencies that would not traditionally consider themselves to be ‘memory institutions.’

Finalists for The Research Data Alliance (RDA) Award for the Most Outstanding Digital Preservation Initiative in Commerce, Industry and the Third sector are (in no particular order):

• LDF Recollection: Innovating a Civil Rights Archive
• Diageo Archive AI Cataloguing Assistant Application
• GOG Preservation Program

Read more about each of the Digital Preservation Awards 2026 finalists in this category!

Hilary Hanahoe, Secretary General of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), said: ‘RDA is proud to sponsor the Award for the Most Outstanding Digital Preservation Initiative in Commerce, Industry and the Third Sector for the second time. Digital preservation is the foundation on which trusted, reusable research data is built and these awards shine a light on the organisations and individuals doing the essential, often invisible, work of keeping our digital knowledge safe, accessible, and meaningful. That mission strongly aligns with the ethos and spirit of the RDA's global community of over 16,500 researchers, practitioners, and policymakers and we are delighted to help celebrate it.’

Before the judges decide on the winners, members of the Digital Preservation Coalition will be invited to cast their vote on each category once all the finalists have been announced. Members will be asked to select their first and second choices for each category and are asked to provide feedback to the finalists. Each Full Member, Associate and Allied Organisation of the DPC may submit one vote. Voting will open Tuesday 16th June.

Following an interview with the Judges, winners will be revealed at the presentation ceremony on Thursday 15th October alongside the digital preservation community, friends, family and peers from leading organizations. 

The Digital Preservation Awards are a world-wide celebration of significant and state-of-the-art contributions to securing our digital legacy and just one of the ways the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) helps to raise awareness of the strategic, cultural, and technological issues which make up the digital preservation challenge.  

The Digital Preservation Awards are made possible by the expertise and support provided by our international panel of Judges, and funding from our sponsors.

About the Digital Preservation Coalition
The DPC is an international charitable foundation which supports digital preservation, helping its members around the world to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services through community engagement, targeted advocacy work, training and workforce development, capacity building, good practice and standards, tailored support and consultancy, and through good management and governance. Its vision is a secure digital legacy.

Apologies for cross-posting

Kind regards/Met vriendelijke groet,

Angela Puggioni
Community Engagement Manager

Digital Preservation Coalition

https://www.dpconline.org/

Email: angela....@dpconline.org

Work days: Monday through Friday

Interested in supporting digital preservation for all? Ask me about joining the DPC.

We also offer tailored digital preservation consultancy. Get in touch to learn more!

📧 Email Disclaimer: Please note that English is not my native language, so there might be some entertaining spelling mistakes or grammar errors in my emails. I appreciate your understanding and patience 😊

Digital Preservation Coalition: working together for a sustainable future for our digital assets.