The Teacher of the Year of Belarus 2026 will be announced on October 2 at the Palace of the Republic

The final stage of the competition is taking place in Minsk from September 21 to October 2. "For many years, the 'Teacher of the Year' competition has served as a powerful impetus for the development of the education system, identifying outstanding, proactive educators whose professionalism and civic stance set high standards for the development of the entire education sector. Today, it is a competition with a rich history and a roster of distinguished names. More than 10,000 educators took part in all stages of this season's competition," Alexander Kadlubay noted.

This year, the competition features nine categories, including two new ones — "Young Teacher" and "Young Principal" — open to educators aged 31 or younger with up to five years of work experience at the time the competition was announced.

The competition is held in four stages: school, district, regional, and national. The final stage consists of a final round and a super-final. Events for the final round, organized by category, are currently underway. "Nine winners advance to the super-final—the best teacher in each category will be determined. In the super-final, the jury will evaluate each of the nine participants. The results of the super-final will determine the 'Teacher of the Year of Belarus 2026.' It is important to note the Head of State's attention to the competition: the grand prize is a car. This adds an element of excitement for our educators," the deputy minister noted.

Furthermore, competition participants can obtain the highest teaching qualification category without undergoing standard procedures. "If a participant already holds the highest category — and this year, 37 out of our 63 teachers do — they are eligible to apply for the 'Teacher-Methodologist' category without the usual formalities. If a participant holds the first qualification category, they are eligible to apply for the highest category without taking the corresponding exam. Why is this the case? It is quite simple: the competition itself serves as an examination platform for those participating in the final round," emphasized Alexander Kadlubay.

23 men and 40 women — 63 participants in total across nine categories — are taking part in the final stage of the professional skills competition. The average age of the contestants is 35. Both rural and urban educational institutions are represented.

The competition program includes workshops, open lessons, and a comprehensive written assignment, as well as the "super-final" events: a briefing, a discussion on key issues, and a mini-lesson. "This year, we are also hosting the CIS Teachers' Congress on October 1–2. Our finalists will have the opportunity to participate in the congress events," the deputy minister added.

The announcement of the 2026 Teacher of the Year of Belarus will take place on October 2 at the Palace of the Republic during a ceremony marking the professional holiday — Teacher's Day.