Cohort announced at Forbes on Fifth will advance to the 2026 Yass Prize Accelerator
NEW YORK, NY – Twenty-six education innovators were named contenders today for the 2026 Yass Prize during a live announcement at Forbes on Fifth in New York City, hosted by media partner Forbes.
Known as the “Pulitzer of Education Innovation,” the $1 million Yass Prize recognizes education providers that exemplify the STOP principles: Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless education.
“When my husband Jeff and I founded the Yass Prize in 2021, our goal was to recognize the education innovators who refused to let students fall behind,” said Yass Prize co-founder Janine Yass. “Five years later, this remarkable 2026 cohort shows how far that movement has grown – creating student-centered solutions for every kind of learner while expanding opportunities for families across America.”
The contenders will now advance to the Yass Prize Accelerator, beginning with a two-week virtual program followed by an immersive week in Miami. They will work alongside nationally recognized leaders in business, education, entrepreneurship, technology and public policy to strengthen and scale their organizations.
The Accelerator will culminate in a pitch competition before a distinguished panel of judges, with contenders vying for the $1 million Yass Prize.
“What distinguishes this cohort is both the strength of the organizations and the breadth of the solutions they represent,” said Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, which powers the Yass Prize. “These leaders are proving that education cannot be uniform and must work for every child. They are giving families more choices and creating opportunities that allow every student to thrive.”
Twelve Yass Prize alumni have also been chosen to compete in the 2026 Yass Prize Alumni Awards Program. They will pitch for additional funding to support their continued growth and expansion.
The $1 million Yass Prize winner and the Alumni Award recipients will be announced live at the Power of Innovation Summit on October 6, 2026 in Philadelphia.
To watch the 2026 contender announcement, visit YassPrize.org/live. To meet the 2026 contenders, click here.
