Searching for the 2026 Red Hat Certified Professional of the Year

The search is on for the 2026 Red Hat Certified Professional of the Year! This award is more than just recognition; it's a testament to the impactful work and dedication that Red Hat Certified Professionals bring to the open source ecosystem. The winner is an individual who takes advantage of their Red Hat skills to solve complex challenges and advance innovation.

Meet our 2025 winner

The 2025 Red Hat Certified Professional of the Year, Daniel Carvalho dos Santos, an infrastructure analyst at Banco Bradesco, enhanced his skills for complex projects through using Red Hat Learning Subscription. He stated that obtaining his Red Hat certifications represented a significant milestone in both his personal growth and professional development. Read Daniel’s full story here. 

Are you next?

If you are someone who takes advantage of Red Hat technologies to deliver tangible business outcomes, improve system performance, or enhance IT environments, we want to hear your story.

Key dates for the 2026 contest:

• Award submission period begins: September 1, 2025
• Submission period ends: October 31, 2025
• Winner announced at Red Hat Summit 2026 (May 11 - 14, 2026)

Prizes include:

• Recognition during Red Hat Summit 2026
• One-year Premium Red Hat Learning Subscription
• A spotlight in a Red Hat success story video
• A Red Hat trophy and fedora
• And more. 

Don't miss the opportunity to be recognized for your hard work and expertise. We look forward to reading your stories and celebrating the next Red Hat Certified Professional of the Year.

Submit your nomination today.