Meet the #ZeroCall26 Shortlist!

Category
News
Author
Date

163 innovative solutions from 68 countries across six continents have been shortlisted for the Zero Project Awards 2026. In addition, 13 inclusive arts initiatives have been shortlisted for the inaugural cohort of Zero Project Arts Awardees. This year’s Call for Nominations (#ZeroCall26) focused on the themes of Accessibility, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Crisis Response.

World map with several countries highlighted in green. In the center, a grey box displays the text 'Shortlist 2026' and the Zero Project logo with a stylized plant. Below, the text reads 'Zero Project' in black.

Accessibility, ICT, and Crisis Response

An unprecedented 586 nominations from 93 countries were received through this year’s Zero Project Call for Nominations, which ran from mid-May to end of June 2025 and focused on the topics of Accessibility, ICT, and Crisis Response.

Crisis Response was addressed as a distinct research topic for the first time. This reflects current global developments and the significance of the topic for disability inclusion—a point emphasized by numerous experts from the Zero Project Network in recent years.

In addition, a specially designated cohort of innovative solutions relating to accessibility for and in the arts will be recognised as "Zero Project Arts Awardees" for the first time. This milestone aligns with the growing momentum of the Zero Project Inclusive Arts initiative.

Explore this interactive Google map highlighting all shortlisted nominations:

Explore the map

Find the complete list of shortlisted innovations here below in this blog post!
Browse through the #ZeroCall26 shortlist by country; followed by the shortlisted inclusive arts initiatives.

From nominations to shortlisted innovations

Between the end of June and mid-August, the first stage of the selection process involved more than 130 hours of review by the Zero Project's research team and over 100 experts from the global Zero Project Network. This stage included checking each of the 586 nominations against formal criteria, requesting additional information where needed, and conducting peer reviews in dedicated sessions.

In parallel, a specialized selection process led by Isabella Essl, Head of Zero Project Inclusive Arts, was launched to review 48 #ZeroCall26 nominations that relate to inclusive arts. As a first stage, this included a peer-review round conducted by members of the cross-sectoral Zero Project Inclusive Arts Community.

The key criteria across both selection processes were innovation, impact, and scalability.

#ZeroCall26: global and cross-sectoral representation

The results of the first stage in the extensive multi-step #ZeroCall26 selection process is the Zero Project Awards 2026 Shortlist which consists of 163 innovative solutions from 68 countries. In addition, 13 inclusive arts initiatives have been shortlisted for the inaugural cohort of Zero Project Arts Awardees.

On the Zero Project Awards 2026 Shortlist, five continents are represented among the top-ranking countries in nominations this year, with Tanzania moving up to stand as Africa’s representative.

In comparison to last year’s shortlist, the United States of America remain at the top, with the European and Ibero-American regions confirming their continuous strong representation through 9 and 4 countries respectively. Yet, among the 26 countries that newly joined the shortlist this year, there are 9 countries from the African continent (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Tunisia) and 7 countries from the Asia Pacific region (Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and Vietnam). 

Shortlisted nominations receive the Zero Project Shortlist badge, certifying their achievement of reaching the Shortlist stage in the Zero Project Call for Nominations 2026. Moreover, Shortlistees will receive an invitation to the global Zero Project Conference 2026, which will be held at the United Nations Office at Vienna from February 18-20, 2026.

From #ZeroCall26 Shortlist to Zero Project Awardees 2026

Starting from late August 2025, the Zero Project will engage with more experts and peer-reviewers from its global network to evaluate and vote on the shortlisted nominations. Moreover, the Zero Project will conduct thorough fact-checking and request any additional information required for decisions on the final cohort of Zero Project Awardees 2026.

Shortlisted inclusive arts initiatives will be evaluated by a designated International Arts Experts Panel, which will determine the inaugural Zero Project Arts Awardees.

The Zero Project Team will announce all Awardees — including those in the Arts — on December 3, 2025, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The global Zero Project Conference 2026 (February 18-20, 2026) will revolve around Zero Project Awardees, with the overall aim of supporting their replication. Zero Project Awardees will also be published in the Zero Project Report 2026.


From A for Afghanistan to Z for Zambia

Afghanistan 

  • Natural Resources Rehabilitation Social Services Organization (NRRSSO) (14) | Website
  • Strengthening Abilities, Health And Rehabilitation Organization (SAHAR-O) (288) | Website 

Argentina 

  • Municipality of Trancas / Little School Caminos de Tiza  (72) | Website  

Armenia 

  • Disability Rights Agenda (140) | Website
  • AR Trails mobile app and creation studio (217) | Website 

Australia 

  • Cocky Guides Australia Limited (434) | Website
  • The Access Agency / Parks Victoria (State Gov) (472) | Website 

Austria 

  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (90) | Website
  • SPIELERPASS (95) | Website
  • Austrian Parliament (377) | Website 

Azerbaijan 

  • DOST Digital Innovations Center under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan (254) | Website 

Bangladesh 

  • CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. (CBM) (97) | Website
  • Aspire to Innovate- a2i program, Cabinet Division, ICT Division, Support-ed by UNDP Bangladesh (471) | Website
  • Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) (545) | Website 

Belarus 

  • The Center of a Successful Person (435) | Website 

Belgium 

  • EMVI.AI (85) | Website
  • European Platform for Rehabilitation (443) | Website 

Brazil 

Burkina Faso 

  • Light for the World International (380) | Website 

Canada 

  • Accessibility Standards Canada (228) | Website
  • Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) (454) | Website 

Chile 

  • BAU Accesibilidad (108) | Website
  • University of Santiago, Chile. Occupational Therapy School (120) | Website
  • ong inclusiva (130) | Website
  • Teletón Chile (333) | Website
  • Turismo Inclusivo Chile (418) | Website
  • Pupa Studio Creativo (433) | Website
  • Fundación Unión Autismo y Neurodiversidad FUAN (458) | Website
  • Prisma Neurodivergente SpA (464) | Website
  • Cohabita SpA (468) | Website
  • Universidad Central de Chile (596) | Website 

China 

  • Alibaba Foundation (215) | Website
  • Soochow Realinder Technologies Co,.Ltd (467)  

Colombia 

  • Todos Podemos Ayudar (77) | Website
  • Red Latinoamericana de Organizaciones de Personas con Discapacidad y sus Familias (410) | Website
  • Disability Team – District (416) | Website
  • Matt Movilidad (459) | Website 

Czech Republic 

  • Teiresiás Centre, Masaryk University (487) | Website 

Denmark 

Ecuador 

  • CONADIS – BANECUADOR (329) | Website 

Ethiopia 

  • HOKO Innovation for Disability Empowerment and Development (373) | Website 

France

  • Groupement Omnisens (lead: Okeenea, with Tactile Studio) (275) | Website
  • Handilab (364) | Website 

Germany 

  • Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf (92) | Website
  • Enna systems GmbH (260) | Website
  • klicksafe - Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz. (399) | Website
  • Bayer (603) | Website

Ghana 

Guatemala 

  • Asociación de Padres y Amigos de Personas con Discapacidad de Santiago Atitlán (ADISA) and Asociación Vivamos Mejor  (131) | Website | Second Website 

India 

  • Sparkling Design & Infotech Pvt. Ltd. (56) | Website
  • No Barrier Foundation (57) | Website
  • RampMyCity (123) | Website
  • Torchit Electronics Private Limited (187) | Website
  • Association For Disabled People (431) | Website
  • Audirivision Technologies (432) | Website
  • SUGAMYA - Accessibility and Inclusion (496) | Website
  • SensoryALL, Axcesable Designs LLP (549) | Website 

Indonesia 

Iran 

  • Lord Rehabilitation Equipment (543) | Website 

Ireland 

  • AVISTA, St. Vincent’s Centre, Dublin (Ireland)  (160) | Website
  • Vision Ireland Services (383) | Website
  • Primark (604) | Website 

Israel 

  • It’s Possible – Center for the Advancement of People with Disabilities in Israel (34) | Website
  • Beit Issie Shapiro (261) | Website
  • AKIM Israel - The National Organization for People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families (483) | Website
  • Ganei Yehoshua Park  (510) | Website
  • Tamar Accessibility & Global Ramp (558) | Website 

Italy 

  • Belluno Fire Department Recreation Club (101) | Website
  • WanderAbility s.r.l (236) | Website
  • Italian Football Association (FIGC- Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) (375) | Website 

Japan 

  • Panasonic Holdings Corporation (96) | Website
  • Porque, the Organization of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities (525) | Website
  • Dentsu Inc. (526) | Website 

Kenya 

Lithuania 

Malawi 

  • Kasungu Deafblind Initiative (75)
  • World Vision (243) | Website 

Malaysia 

  • Monash University & MyBIM (184) | Website 

Mexico 

  • Humanitarian Support Network for People with Disabilities (573) | Website 

Montenegro 

Mozambique 

  • Light for the World International (307) | Website 

Myanmar 

  • IFES and OPD partner organizations (425) | Website 

Nepal 

  • Disability Empowerment Society Nepal (32) | Website
  • Independent Living Center - Pokhara (477) | Website 

Netherlands 

  • Adyen N.V. (198) | Website
  • Rijksmuseum (282) | Website
  • Saxion University of Applied Sciences and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (449) | Website, Website 

Nigeria 

  • CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. (CBM) (104) | Website 

Norway 

  • The Authority of Universal Design of ICT(Norway) (479) | Website 

Pakistan 

  • CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. (CBM) (168) | Website
  • STEP - Special Talent Exchange Program (552) | Website
  • Boltay Huroof (601) | Website 

Palestine 

  • Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children (128) | Website 

Peru 

Poland 

  • Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (253) | Website
  • City of Warsaw (319) | Website
  • Integracja Foundation (322) | Website
  • Social Insurance Institution (ZUS)  (406) | Website
  • Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (Polsih Development Bank) (451) | Website
  • Credit Agricole Bank Polska S.A. (CABP) (484) | Website 

Romania 

  • Fundatia Neuroatipic (280) | Website
  • Caiac SMile Sports Club Association (493) | Website
  • Wolfhouse Productions (541) | Website 

Rwanda 

Singapore 

  • National Library Board, Singapore  (214) | Website
  • A11Yverse Ltd (501) | Website 

Slovakia 

  • CINEFIL / Kino Úsmev (556) | Website 

Slovenia 

  • Geodetic Institute of Slovenia (170) | Website 

South Africa 

  • Shonaquip Social Enterprise (430) | Website 

South Sudan 

  • Light for the World International (292) | Website 

Spain 

  • Association for easy understanding of environments and buildings (30) | Website
  • Som Foundation (45) | Website
  • Hotel Taimar (175) | Website
  • Fundación ONCE and Guardia Civil (298) | Website
  • Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D. (332) | Website
  • Fundación Personas (356) | Website
  • Randstad Foundation (366) | Website
  • Fundacion SIFU in collaboration with EyeHarp association (437) | Website
  • Trust Rugby Spain (494) | Website
  • Association of Volunteers of Galdakao (known as GBGE) and the City Council of Paiporta (585) | Website 

Sweden 

Taiwan 

  • National Science and Technology for Disaster Reduction (342) | Website 

Tanzania 

Tunisia 

Turkey 

  • Türkiye Down Syndrome Association (506) | Website
  • Hadi İşaret (560) | Website 

Uganda 

  • MRT IT PEAKS LIMITED (197) | Website
  • Light for the World International (313) | Website 

Ukraine 

  • Charitable Foundation "Blagomay" (54) | Website 

United Arab Emirates 

  • Zayed Higher Organization for People Of Determination (135) | Website
  • Goals UAE (210) | Website 

United Kingdom 

United States 

Vanuatu 

Vietnam 

  • Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities (DP Hanoi) (461) | Website 

Zambia 

  • The Purple Glow Foundation (17) | Website
  • Adventist Relief and Development Agency (ADRA) (238) | Website

Shortlisted inclusive arts initiatives

Austria 

  • Wien Museum (109) | Website
  • Canon EMEA / Canon Austria (150) | Website
  • Ohrenschmaus. Verein zur Förderung der Literatur für Menschen mit Behinderungen (521) | Website

Brazil 

  • Motiva Institute & Escola de Gente (452) | Website 

Chile 

Ireland 

  • Suisha Inclusive Arts / Horizons (438) | Website

Netherlands 

  • Stichting Possibilize (195) | Website

Norway 

  • The Dissimilis Music Festival (NGO) (532) | Website

Poland 

  • ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań (387) | Website

Spain 

Sweden 

United Kindgom 

  • Royal Holloway University of London, King's College London, Shape Arts, Lancester Business School (182) | Website 

United States 

  • Circusense Inc. d/b/a Omnium Circus (181) | Website

Download the press release