AEPD 2026 Award for Good Data Protection Practices: How to Apply and What They Value

Key data

Organizations that have developed solid data protection governance structures have until October 15, 2026 to submit their application for the AEPD 2026 Award. The call, published through the Resolution of July 8, 2026 in the BOE, distinguishes between private and public sector and is part of the AEPD Strategic Plan 2025-2030.

The award has no economic endowment. Its value is reputational: honorific mention, diploma, trophy and visibility in the AEPD's official channels. For many companies, that public recognition is equivalent to a compliance endorsement with clients, tenders or external audits.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution approves the regulatory bases of the call and sets the evaluation criteria, submission procedure and type of recognition. These are the key elements:

The stated objective of the call is to promote a proactive privacy culture in public and private organizations, rewarding not only formal GDPR compliance, but initiatives that go beyond: active governance, internal participation and risk management in complex treatments.

Economic and operational impact

Participating in this award does not generate direct regulatory costs, but it does have operational and strategic implications that are worth considering:

• Cost of preparing the application: developing a project of up to 100 pages with executive summary requires internal time (DPO, legal area, management) and possibly external support from specialized consulting.
• Reputational value: AEPD recognition can be used in corporate communication, public tenders, due diligence processes and relationships with clients that require compliance guarantees.
• Indirect effect on sanction risk: the process of preparing the application requires documenting and auditing internal practices, which reduces exposure to a possible AEPD inspection.
• Visibility in official channels: dissemination on the AEPD website and social networks can generate brand impact in sectors where trust in data processing is a competitive factor (health, fintech, human resources, education).

Who does it affect?

All organizations that process personal data and have developed notable practices in its management can submit applications. Specifically:

• Private companies of any size and sector
• Associations and foundations
• Public bodies (administrations, agencies, public entities)
• Organizations with high-risk treatments (especially valued)
• Entities with formalized data governance structures (DPO, privacy committees, internal audits)
• Organizations with internal participatory channels on privacy matters

Practical example

A human resources company with 200 employees that manages sensitive data of candidates and workers (medical history, psychological evaluations) has implemented in 2025 an internal privacy program that includes: designated DPO, quarterly audits, consultation channel for employees and impact assessments (DPIA) for all high-risk treatments.

This company fits directly into the assessment criteria of the AEPD 2026 Award: documented governance, internal audits, participatory channels and high-risk treatments managed proactively. It can submit its application before October 15, 2026 with a project of up to 100 pages documenting these practices, accompanied by an executive summary. If awarded, the AEPD will disseminate its case on its website and social networks, generating a public endorsement of high reputational value compliance.

What should companies do now?

1. Assess if you meet the criteria: review whether your organization has governance structures, internal audits, participatory channels or documented strategies in data protection, especially in high-risk treatments.
2. Decide the category: identify whether you should apply in the private sector category (companies, associations, foundations) or public sector.
3. Prepare the project: the document must have a maximum of 100 pages plus executive summary. Assign internal responsible (DPO or legal area) and, if necessary, support with external consulting.
4. Submit by electronic means: the call indicates that submission should preferably be done by electronic means. Verify the channels enabled by the AEPD.
5. Respect the deadline: the deadline is October 15, 2026. There is no indication of extension, so it is advisable to start preparation with sufficient notice.
6. Take advantage of the process internally: even if you are not awarded, the exercise of documenting and auditing your practices strengthens your position against possible AEPD inspections.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15849