Applications are now open for the 2026 Tony Sale Award, organised by the Computer Conservation Society (CCS), which recognises outstanding achievements in the conservation and restoration of historic computing systems.
Established in 2012 in memory of Tony Sale, a pioneer of computer conservation, the international award honours a singular practical project—by an individual or a group—that has made a significant contribution to preserving computing history. Eligible projects may involve hardware, software, or a combination of both, with a strong emphasis on working systems and hands-on restoration.
Applications must be submitted by 30 June 2026, via a covering email with the required information and supporting entry details, as specified in the official calling notice available on the CCS website.
The 2026 Award will be delivered in collaboration with The National Museum of Computing (TNMoC), reflecting Tony Sale’s long-standing legacy at Bletchley Park. Assessment and judging will be carried out independently during July and August 2026, with the judging panel enabled by Professor Martin Campbell-Kelly.
The winner will be publicly announced at an award ceremony at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley (UK), on Thursday, 29 September 2026.
Projects will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Originality – novelty in conservation or reconstruction approaches
- Completeness – achievement of project goals within the last five years
- Ingenuity – development of new techniques or processes
- Impact – contribution to understanding the history of computing
- Outreach – visibility and dissemination to expert and public audiences
The Award comprises a trophy and a £1,000 grant to support the winning project. The award recipient (or a group representative) will be invited to attend the ceremony, present the project, and participate in a technical discussion and Q&A session. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses will be covered.
Members involved in computer conservation, restoration or digital heritage projects are strongly encouraged to apply or share this opportunity within their professional networks.
For full details and application guidance, please visit the Computer Conservation Society website.
