Celebrating Visionaries Shaping the Future of Global Finance
The 2nd World Fintech Awards 2026 recognise the institutions, innovators, and
leaders
who are redefining financial services through technology, inclusion, and
transformative
ideas.
As the financial ecosystem undergoes rapid change driven by AI, digital
infrastructure,
embedded finance, and evolving regulatory frameworks, these awards celebrate those
who
are leading the shift toward a more resilient, inclusive, and technology-driven
financial future.
Hosted alongside the 2nd World Fintech Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, the awards bring
together the most influential voices from banks, fintechs, regulators, technology
providers, and financial institutions to honour excellence and spotlight
groundbreaking
achievements shaping the next phase of global finance.
Who Can Nominate?
Banks and Financial Institutions
Fintechs and Early Staged Startups
Payments and Digital Lending Platforms
Insurtech and WealthTech Companies
Technology and Financial Infrastructure Providers
AI, Data, and Cybersecurity Innovators in Finance
Regulators and Policy Innovators
Fintech Leaders and Industry Pioneers
Award Categories
- Outstanding Fintech Policy Initiatives
- Excellence in Digital Innovation
- Leadership in AI-Powered Fintech Solutions
- Outstanding Government Collaboration with Fintech Startups
- Digital Infrastructure Development in Fintech
- Innovative E-Governance in Financial Services
- Leadership in Regulatory Frameworks for Fintech
- Government Initiative in Financial Literacy
- Outstanding State Government Leadership in Fintech Adoption
- Excellence in Blockchain Implementation for Governance
- Outstanding Financial Technology Policy Support
- Innovative Government-led Fintech Payment Solutions
- Outstanding Digital Payments Adoption Initiative by State/Center
- Digital Innovation in Public Finance Management
- Outstanding Leadership in Fintech Regulation and Governance
- Outstanding Government Partnership with Financial Institutions
- Excellence in Data Security in Public Financial Systems
- Outstanding Initiative for Sustainable Fintech Solutions
- Leadership in Financial Inclusion
- Outstanding Digital Transformation in BFSI
- Leadership in AI & ML for Banking Automation
- Outstanding Financial Institution for Blockchain Adoption
- Outstanding Innovation in Digital Wealth Management
- Leadership in Cybersecurity for Financial Institutions
- Most Impactful Fintech Adoption
- Excellence in Customer Experience in Financial Services
- Outstanding Open Banking Initiative in BFSI
- Leadership in Real-Time Payments Systems
- Outstanding Green Finance Initiative
- Outstanding Leadership in Financial Inclusion Initiatives
- Outstanding Fintech Integration in Legacy Systems
- Excellence in Fraud Prevention and Risk Management
- Innovative NBFC for Financial Inclusion
- Digital Transformation Leadership in NBFC Services
- NBFC Excellence in AI-Driven Credit Assessment
- Outstanding Customer Experience in NBFC Services
- NBFC Leadership in Alternative Credit Scoring
- Excellence in NBFC Cloud & Data Analytics Adoption
- Outstanding NBFC Initiative in Embedded Finance
- Digital Transformation Leadership in Insurance Services
- Innovative Use of AI & ML in Insurance Services
- Excellence in Digital Claims Processing
- Most Innovative Insurance Product of the Year
- Outstanding Customer-Centric Digital Insurance Platform
- Outstanding Blockchain Implementation in Insurance
- Excellence in Digital Health Insurance Solutions
- Outstanding Customer Experience in Health Insurance
- Most Impactful Health Insurance Inclusion Initiative
- Leadership in Digital Health Insurance Innovation
- Leadership in Cybersecurity Solutions for BFSI
- Excellence in AI & ML-driven Solutions
- Pioneering Blockchain & Web3 Solution for Financial Services
- Best Data Analytics & Intelligence Solution for BFSI
- Leadership in Big Data & Predictive Analytics for Financial Services
- Outstanding Digital Transformation Solution
- Excellence in Regulatory Technology (Regtech) for Compliance & Governance
- Best API & Open Banking Solution Provider
- Most Scalable and Agile Technology Platform
- Most Innovative Digital Payment Technology Provider
- Excellence in Next-Gen Payment Gateway Solutions
- Leading Digital Lending Technology Provider
- Top AI-Powered Credit Risk & Scoring Solution
- Most Reliable Fraud Detection & Financial Crime Prevention Solution
- Outstanding AI-powered Risk & Compliance Management Solution
- Best Emerging Technology Provider for BFSI
- Best Banking-as-a-Service Platform
- Best Fintech Infrastructure Provider
- Best Cloud Technology for BFSI
- Best API Banking Platform
- Most Visionary Leader in Fintech Transformation
- Most Impactful CEO in Digital Banking Evolution
- Outstanding Leadership in Financial Inclusion
- Outstanding Leadership in AI Innovation in Fintech
- Visionary Leader in InsurTech
- Leadership in Open Banking Innovation
- Leadership in Digital Payments Innovation
- Transformational Leader in Digital Lending
- Leadership in Blockchain Innovation in Financial Services
- Leadership in Cybersecurity & Data Protection in Fintech
- Most Strategic Leader in Fintech Investment
- Leadership in Sustainable Finance Innovation
- Leadership in Data-Driven Financial Innovation
- Visionary Leader in Future-Ready Fintech Solutions
- Leadership in Building Scalable Fintech Platforms
- Outstanding Leadership in API Banking Innovation
- Leadership in Next-Generation Payment Ecosystems
- Outstanding Digital Transformation in Fintech
- Outstanding Digital Payment Platform
- Innovation in Digital Lending
- Disruptive Innovation in InsurTech
- Outstanding Wealthtech Platform
- Innovative Cross-border Payment Solution
- Excellence in Financial Inclusion
- Outstanding AI-Driven Fintech Innovation
- Outstanding Use of Big Data in Financial Services
- Outstanding Startup in Fintech
- Most Promising Fintech Company
- Excellence in Customer-Centric Fintech Solutions
- Innovative Embedded Finance Platform
- Outstanding Mobile Fintech Solution
- Outstanding Fintech for Wealth Management
- Most Impactful Fintech for Sustainable Finance
- Outstanding Fintech Company of the Year
- Most Impactful Partnership in Fintech
- AI-Driven Innovation in Lending
- Rising Star in Fintech Cybersecurity
- Best Neobank / Digital Bank
- Best BNPL Innovation
- Best SME Financing Platform
- Best Fintech for Emerging Markets
- Best Use of AI & ML in Fintech Startup
- Fastest Growing Fintech Startup
- Best Fintech Startup for MSMEs / SMEs
- Women-led Fintech Startup
- Fintech Startup to Watch (Next Unicorn)
- Best B2B Fintech Startup
- Most Funded Fintech Startup
- Best KYC/AML Innovation by a Startup
- Most Promising Fintech Startup
- Best Revenue Model Innovation in Fintech
- Outstanding PR Campaign in Financial Technology
- Most Effective Brand Positioning in Tech & Fintech
- Innovation in Content Marketing for BFSI & Fintech
- Excellence in Digital Marketing Campaigns
- Innovative Social Media Strategy in Fintech Marketing
- Outstanding Influencer Marketing Campaign in Fintech
- Innovation in Integrated Marketing for Financial Services
- Excellence in Customer Engagement Marketing for Fintech
- Best Fintech Brand Launch Campaign
- Best Thought Leadership Campaign in Fintech
- Best B2B Marketing Campaign for Fintech
- Best Event Marketing Campaign in Fintech
- Best Use of Data & Analytics in Fintech Marketing
Awards Jury
Deepak Sharma
Independent Director
Suryoday Small Finance Bank
Deepak Mohanty
Executive Director
Wells Fargo
Dhananjay Tambe
Former Deputy Managing Director & Chief Information Officer
State Bank of India
Benefits of Nominating at World Fintech Awards 2026
Participating in the World Fintech Summit Awards 2026 offers nominees significant industry visibility and recognition.
Industry Recognition
Gain recognition as a leading innovator or institution shaping the future of fintech and digital finance.
Global Visibility
Be showcased before a distinguished audience of global fintech leaders, regulators, investors, and technology partners.
Brand Credibility
Strengthen your brand positioning as a trusted and forward-thinking leader within the financial ecosystem.
Media & Industry Amplification
Featured coverage across summit publications, digital channels, and industry media platforms.
Leadership Positioning
Establish your organisation as a thought leader contributing to the next era of financial innovation.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with influential leaders from banks, fintech companies, regulators, and technology providers attending the summit.
Nomination Evaluation Process
Step 1 - Submission Review
All entries are reviewed for completeness and eligibility.
Step 2 – Editorial Screening & Categorisation
The editorial board conducts an initial review to assess the relevance, accuracy, and category alignment of each nomination. Entries are curated, refined, and categorised to ensure a fair and structured evaluation process before being presented to the jury.
Step 3 - Expert Jury Evaluation
An independent jury evaluates nominations based on key parameters such as:
- Innovation and originality
- Industry impact
- Scalability and sustainability
- Customer value and market adoption
- Contribution to financial inclusion and ecosystem development
Step 4 - Shortlisting
Top nominations are shortlisted across award categories.
Step 5 - Final Jury Deliberation
The jury conducts final deliberations to determine the winners.
Step 6 - Winners Announcement
Award winners are announced during the 2nd World Fintech Summit Awards Ceremony in Bengaluru.
Important Guidelines
- Eligibility: Open to C-suite leaders and organisations across fintech, startups, government entities, banks, NBFCs, and the broader BFSI ecosystem.
- Multiple Entries: Separate nomination fees apply for each category entry.
- Conflict of Interest: Employees and immediate family of Awards Management, sponsors, and partners are not eligible.
- Complete Submissions: All required fields must be filled; incomplete entries may be disqualified.
- Jury Decision: The jury’s decision will be final and binding.
- Compliance: Entries not meeting eligibility criteria may be disqualified at any stage.
Important Dates
Previous Edition Award Glimpses
Previous Edition Award Winners
FAQs
- Recognition as an industry leader
- Enhanced brand visibility & PR exposure
- Networking opportunities with BFSI decision-makers
- Media coverage through Elets BFSI platforms
- Register yourself and complete the required details.
- The Editorial Board will review and categorise all submitted entries.
- An esteemed panel of Industry leaders will convene. The jury will review the categorised entries and deliberate to determine the winners based on consensus.
- Winners will be honoured at a prestigious evening, attended by leading industry figures.
Be a Part of the Global Fintech Movement
Sponsorship Opportunities
partnerships@worldfintechsummit.com
Speaking Opportunities
secretariat@worldfintechsummit.com
