2026 NAPABA Awards: Celebrating Excellence in the City of Angels

 

NAPABA proudly honors outstanding attorneys and innovative organizations who have made exceptional contributions to the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community within the past year. These annual awards recognize excellence, impact, and leadership across all stages of the profession and celebrate those who are advancing NAPABA’s mission and values in their work.

 

Join us in Los Angeles, California, as we celebrate the 2026 NAPABA Awards during what promises to be our biggest Convention yet.

 

Nominations for all 2026 awards will open on April 15, 2026

 

Nomination deadline is June 4, 2026

 

Previous NAPABA award recipients include former Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III (ret. USN), former Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States Neal Katyal, former Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Medtronic Ivan Fong, former Mayor of San Francisco Edwin Mah Lee (posthumous), former Ambassador Gary Locke, former Ambassador Katherine Tai, civil rights attorney Dale Minami, former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, Judge Amul Thapar, President of Queens College Frank Wu, and activist and author Helen Zia to name a few.

 

What to Expect in 2026: Celebrating Excellence Across the Convention

 

Building on the success of last year’s enhanced awards experience, NAPABA will continue to spotlight honorees throughout the Convention, creating more meaningful moments of recognition while building excitement toward a celebratory finale at the Gala.

 

We will kick off the Convention by honoring the Best Under 40 recipients at the Welcome Reception on Thursday, November 12. On Friday, November 13, we will celebrate the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award honorees at the Trailblazer Awards Reception. The celebration continues on Saturday, November 14, at the Awards Luncheon, where we will recognize outstanding individuals and organizations across multiple categories, including Affiliate of the Year, In-House Counsel Leadership, In-House Counsel Leadership Rising Star, Law Firm Community Champion, Military and Veteran Service, Pro Bono Service, Public Sector Leadership, and Women’s Leadership.

 

By showcasing honorees across multiple signature events, NAPABA creates a dynamic and engaging experience that highlights each recipient while building momentum throughout the Convention. This experience culminates in a celebratory Gala that brings the community together in recognition of excellence, leadership, and impact.