Award announcement press release template (2026)

When to use this template

Use this template when you have won a significant award (Gartner Magic Quadrant, Forrester Wave, G2 top-ranked, major industry recognition, analyst ranking). The award should be from a recognized third party and should carry credibility in your market. Local or minor awards dilute your credibility. If you are unsure whether an award is worth announcing, ask: would a tier-one tech journalist care? If the answer is no, do not issue a release.

The copy-paste template

Replace the bracketed fields with your facts. Keep the structure: headline, dateline, lead, significance, CEO quote, award body quote, boilerplate, contact. This is the format journalists and buyers expect when announcing an award or analyst recognition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

{COMPANY_NAME} Named {AWARD_RANK} in the {AWARD_YEAR} {AWARD_NAME} by {ISSUER}

{CITY}, {COUNTRY}, {MONTH} {DAY}, {YEAR} - {COMPANY_NAME}, the {COMPANY_DESCRIPTION}, today announced that it has been named {AWARD_RANK} in the {AWARD_YEAR} {AWARD_NAME} by {ISSUER}. {COMPANY_NAME} is one of {NUMBER} vendors recognized in the {CATEGORY}, and was recognized for {RECOGNITION_REASON}.

The {AWARD_NAME} is the industry standard for evaluating {MARKET_SEGMENT} solutions. {AWARD_CONTEXT_SENTENCE}. {COMPANY_NAME}'s recognition as {AWARD_RANK} reflects the company's {COMPANY_STRENGTH_1} and {COMPANY_STRENGTH_2}.

"This recognition validates our commitment to {COMPANY_VISION} and our focus on {CUSTOMER_OUTCOME}," said {CEO_NAME}, {CEO_TITLE} of {COMPANY_NAME}. "We are proud to be recognized by {ISSUER} as a leader in {MARKET_SEGMENT}."

"{COMPANY_NAME} stands out for {DIFFERENTIATOR_1} and {DIFFERENTIATOR_2}," said {ANALYST_NAME}, {ANALYST_TITLE} at {ISSUER}. "The company is well-positioned to help customers {CUSTOMER_BENEFIT}."

About {COMPANY_NAME}
{COMPANY_NAME} is a {COMPANY_DESCRIPTION} headquartered in {CITY}, {COUNTRY}. Founded in {FOUNDING_YEAR}, the company serves {CUSTOMER_COUNT} customers in {GEOGRAPHIES}. {COMPANY_NAME} is backed by {INVESTOR_LIST} and has raised {TOTAL_FUNDING} to date.

Media Contact
{CONTACT_NAME}, {CONTACT_TITLE}
{COMPANY_NAME}
{EMAIL}
{PHONE}
Press kit: {PRESS_KIT_URL}

What this template includes

• Headline with company name, award rank/category, award name and issuer.
• Dateline with city, country, date in standard format.
• Lead paragraph naming the award, your rank, and what you were recognized for.
• Significance paragraph explaining what the award means and the market context.
• CEO quote on what the award validates about the company and product, under 40 words.
• Award body quote (if available) explaining why you won, under 40 words.
• Boilerplate with company description, founding date, customer count and funding history.
• Media contact with name, title, email, phone and press kit URL.

How to customize in 5 steps

1. Gather the facts. Collect the award name (exact title from the award body), the issuer (Gartner, G2, Deloitte, etc.), the category or ranking (Leader, top 10, best in category), the year, any specific metrics or context (how many vendors evaluated, how you rank relative to competitors). Get the award details right.
2. Write the headline with the award name. Format: "{Company} named {award type} in {award name} by {issuer}." Example: "Acme named Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Field Service Management." Lead with the company name, the award and the issuer.
3. Draft the lead paragraph. Answer the five Ws in 60 words. Who (company name), what (award, rank, category), when (year, if different from publication), where (geography if relevant), why (what the award signifies about the product or market). A journalist should be able to file a brief from the lead alone.
4. Add context and significance. One paragraph on what the award means (validation of product strategy, market leadership, customer success). Include context (how many vendors were evaluated, if you were first to win, if this is a new category). Numbers and context trump self-promotion.
5. Add quotes and close. One quote from your CEO or founder (40 words, on what the award means for the company and customers). One quote from the award body if possible (40 words, explaining why you won). Then boilerplate (company description, customer count, funding if relevant) and press contact.

3 examples in the wild

Real award announcements from companies that nailed the format:

• Notion - Gartner Magic Quadrant (2022): Notion announced its first Gartner Magic Quadrant placement as a Leader with a release that explained what the award meant (validation of product and user base) and what it signified for the market (rising adoption of all-in-one productivity platforms). The release was tight and drove coverage across TechCrunch, The Verge and The Information.
• Qonto - Deloitte Fast 50 (2021): Qonto announced its inclusion in Deloitte's Fast 50 fastest-growing companies in Europe with a release that contextualized the award (recognition of fintech innovation in EMEA) and connected it to the company's milestone (reaching 1M users). The release drove analyst coverage and investor interest.
• Lemonade - G2 Leader (2023): Lemonade announced its G2 Leader status with a release that tied it to customer satisfaction and NPS scores. The release included a quote from Lemonade's CEO and a quote from the G2 editor explaining the methodology. This added third-party credibility.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Unclear award rank. Do not say "recognized by Gartner" without saying whether you are a Leader, Challenger, Niche Player or Visionary. Be specific about your rank.
• No context on significance. Do not assume journalists know what a Gartner Magic Quadrant is or why it matters. Explain: what the award evaluates, how vendors are selected, what your rank means.
• Self-quoting only. Do not rely only on your CEO quote. Ask the award body (analyst, G2 editor) for a quote explaining why you won. Third-party validation is stronger.
• Marketing language. "Thrilled," "honored," "excited." Use the space for facts instead. Explain what the award validates about your product or market.
• Over 350 words. Long award releases feel self-promotional. Aim for one page (250 to 300 words). If you have more to say, write a longer blog post.
• No link to the award or report. Always link to the Gartner report, the G2 page, or the analyst's coverage page. Give journalists and customers an easy way to verify the award and read more.

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Frequently asked questions