diff --git a/src/components/admin/round/finalization-tab.tsx b/src/components/admin/round/finalization-tab.tsx
index 4da11bd..df013b2 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/round/finalization-tab.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/round/finalization-tab.tsx
@@ -666,7 +666,9 @@ export function FinalizationTab({ roundId, roundStatus }: FinalizationTabProps)
               )}
               <div>
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-1.5">
-                  <label className="text-sm font-medium">Advancement Message</label>
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium">
+                    {summary.winnerContext ? 'Winner Message' : 'Advancement Message'}
+                  </label>
                   <Button
                     variant="ghost"
                     size="sm"
@@ -681,7 +683,11 @@ export function FinalizationTab({ roundId, roundStatus }: FinalizationTabProps)
                   </Button>
                 </div>
                 <Textarea
-                  placeholder="Custom message for projects that are advancing (added to the standard email template)..."
+                  placeholder={
+                    summary.winnerContext
+                      ? 'Custom message for winners (added to the standard winner email template)...'
+                      : 'Custom message for projects that are advancing (added to the standard email template)...'
+                  }
                   value={advancementMessage}
                   onChange={(e) => setAdvancementMessage(e.target.value)}
                   rows={3}
@@ -715,7 +721,13 @@ export function FinalizationTab({ roundId, roundStatus }: FinalizationTabProps)
           <CardContent className="pt-0">
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-t pt-4">
               <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                {summary.nextRound ? (
+                {summary.winnerContext ? (
+                  <span>
+                    <strong>{passedCount}</strong>{' '}
+                    {passedCount !== 1 ? 'winners' : 'winner'} will be notified for{' '}
+                    <strong>{summary.winnerContext.label}</strong>
+                  </span>
+                ) : summary.nextRound ? (
                   <span>
                     <strong>{passedCount}</strong> project{passedCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''} will advance to{' '}
                     <strong>{summary.nextRound.name}</strong>
@@ -751,9 +763,11 @@ export function FinalizationTab({ roundId, roundStatus }: FinalizationTabProps)
                         <ul className="list-disc pl-5 space-y-1">
                           <li>Mark <strong>{passedCount}</strong> project{passedCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''} as <strong>PASSED</strong></li>
                           <li>Mark <strong>{rejectedCount}</strong> project{rejectedCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''} as <strong>REJECTED</strong></li>
-                          {summary.nextRound && (
+                          {summary.winnerContext ? (
+                            <li>Notify <strong>{passedCount}</strong> {passedCount !== 1 ? 'winners' : 'winner'} for <strong>{summary.winnerContext.label}</strong> (no further round)</li>
+                          ) : summary.nextRound ? (
                             <li>Advance passed projects to <strong>{summary.nextRound.name}</strong></li>
-                          )}
+                          ) : null}
                           <li>Send email notifications to all affected teams</li>
                         </ul>
                         {undecidedCount > 0 && (
diff --git a/src/lib/email.ts b/src/lib/email.ts
index 7d6f4ac..c1da83f 100644
--- a/src/lib/email.ts
+++ b/src/lib/email.ts
@@ -1992,6 +1992,84 @@ Together for a healthier ocean.
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Generate "Award Winner" notification email template — used when finalizing
+ * the terminal round of a special award (no further rounds to advance to).
+ */
+export function getAwardWinnerNotificationTemplate(
+  name: string,
+  projectName: string,
+  winnerLabel: string,
+  customMessage?: string,
+  accountUrl?: string,
+  fullCustomBody?: boolean,
+): EmailTemplate {
+  const greeting = name ? `Congratulations ${name}!` : 'Congratulations!'
+
+  const escapedMessage = customMessage
+    ? escapeHtml(customMessage).replace(/\n/g, '<br>')
+    : null
+
+  if (fullCustomBody && escapedMessage) {
+    const content = `
+      ${sectionTitle(greeting)}
+      <div style="color: ${BRAND.textDark}; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 20px 0;">${escapedMessage}</div>
+      ${accountUrl ? ctaButton(accountUrl, 'Create Your Account') : ctaButton('/applicant', 'View Your Dashboard')}
+    `
+    return {
+      subject: `Your project has won: "${projectName}"`,
+      html: getEmailWrapper(content),
+      text: `${greeting}\n\n${customMessage}\n\n${accountUrl ? `Create your account: ${getBaseUrl()}${accountUrl}` : `Visit your dashboard: ${getBaseUrl()}/applicant`}\n\n---\nMonaco Ocean Protection Challenge\nTogether for a healthier ocean.`,
+    }
+  }
+
+  const winnerBanner = `
+<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="margin: 20px 0;">
+  <tr>
+    <td style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #b45309 0%, #f59e0b 100%); border-radius: 12px; padding: 28px; text-align: center;">
+      <p style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0 0 8px 0; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px;">Winner Announcement</p>
+      <h2 style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 700;">Your project has won!</h2>
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+`
+
+  const content = `
+    ${sectionTitle(greeting)}
+    ${winnerBanner}
+    ${infoBox(`<strong>"${escapeHtml(projectName)}"</strong> has been selected as a winner of <strong>${escapeHtml(winnerLabel)}</strong>.`, 'success')}
+    ${
+      escapedMessage
+        ? `<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; margin: 20px 0; color: ${BRAND.textDark}; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7;">${escapedMessage}</div>`
+        : paragraph('Our team will reach out shortly with details on the next steps, including award presentation, communications, and any administrative requirements.')
+    }
+    ${accountUrl ? ctaButton(accountUrl, 'Create Your Account') : ctaButton('/applicant', 'View Your Dashboard')}
+  `
+
+  return {
+    subject: `Your project has won: "${projectName}"`,
+    html: getEmailWrapper(content),
+    text: `
+${greeting}
+
+Your project has won!
+
+Project: ${projectName}
+${winnerLabel}
+
+"${projectName}" has been selected as a winner of ${winnerLabel}.
+
+${customMessage || 'Our team will reach out shortly with details on the next steps, including award presentation, communications, and any administrative requirements.'}
+
+${accountUrl ? `Create your account: ${getBaseUrl()}${accountUrl}` : `Visit your dashboard: ${getBaseUrl()}/applicant`}
+
+---
+Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge
+Together for a healthier ocean.
+    `,
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Generate "Under Consideration for Special Award" notification email template
  */
@@ -2273,6 +2351,16 @@ export const NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES: Record<string, TemplateGenerator> = {
       ctx.metadata?.fullCustomBody as boolean | undefined,
     ),
 
+  AWARD_WINNER_NOTIFICATION: (ctx) =>
+    getAwardWinnerNotificationTemplate(
+      ctx.name || '',
+      (ctx.metadata?.projectName as string) || 'Your Project',
+      (ctx.metadata?.awardName as string) || 'Special Award',
+      ctx.metadata?.customMessage as string | undefined,
+      ctx.metadata?.accountUrl as string | undefined,
+      ctx.metadata?.fullCustomBody as boolean | undefined,
+    ),
+
   AWARD_SELECTION_NOTIFICATION: (ctx) =>
     getAwardSelectionNotificationTemplate(
       ctx.name || '',
diff --git a/src/server/routers/roundEngine.ts b/src/server/routers/roundEngine.ts
index 09bb628..310a342 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/roundEngine.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/roundEngine.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
 } from '../services/round-finalization'
 import {
   getAdvancementNotificationTemplate,
+  getAwardWinnerNotificationTemplate,
   getRejectionNotificationTemplate,
 } from '@/lib/email'
 
@@ -384,30 +385,45 @@ export const roundEngineRouter = router({
           name: true,
           competition: {
             select: {
+              name: true,
               rounds: {
                 select: { id: true, name: true, sortOrder: true, roundType: true },
                 orderBy: { sortOrder: 'asc' },
               },
             },
           },
+          specialAward: { select: { name: true } },
         },
       })
       const rounds = round.competition.rounds
       // Skip MENTORING rounds for display — those are opt-in and not the
       // shared destination for all advancing teams.
-      const toRoundName = findDisplayNextRound(rounds, input.roundId)?.name ?? 'Next Round'
+      const displayNext = findDisplayNextRound(rounds, input.roundId)
 
       const passedCount = await ctx.prisma.projectRoundState.count({
         where: { roundId: input.roundId, proposedOutcome: 'PASSED' },
       })
 
-      const template = getAdvancementNotificationTemplate(
-        'Team Member',
-        'Your Project',
-        round.name,
-        toRoundName,
-        input.customMessage || undefined,
-      )
+      // No further round → passing teams are winners (of the special award if
+      // attached, otherwise of the competition itself).
+      const winnerLabel = !displayNext
+        ? round.specialAward?.name ?? round.competition.name
+        : null
+
+      const template = winnerLabel
+        ? getAwardWinnerNotificationTemplate(
+            'Team Member',
+            'Your Project',
+            winnerLabel,
+            input.customMessage || undefined,
+          )
+        : getAdvancementNotificationTemplate(
+            'Team Member',
+            'Your Project',
+            round.name,
+            displayNext?.name ?? 'Next Round',
+            input.customMessage || undefined,
+          )
 
       return { html: template.html, subject: template.subject, recipientCount: passedCount }
     }),
diff --git a/src/server/services/round-finalization.ts b/src/server/services/round-finalization.ts
index dd44f98..9baadb3 100644
--- a/src/server/services/round-finalization.ts
+++ b/src/server/services/round-finalization.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ export type FinalizationSummary = {
     conceptProposed: number
   }
   nextRound: { id: string; name: string } | null
+  /**
+   * Set when this round has no further round to advance to — passing teams
+   * are winners, not advancers. Covers both the main-track terminal round
+   * (winners of the competition, possibly multiple e.g. top 3) and the
+   * terminal round of a special award. `label` is what we tell the team they
+   * have won (competition name or award name); `awardId` is set only when
+   * the round is attached to a SpecialAward.
+   */
+  winnerContext: { label: string; awardId: string | null } | null
   accountStats: {
     needsInvite: number
     hasAccount: number
@@ -435,12 +444,14 @@ export async function getFinalizationSummary(
     include: {
       competition: {
         select: {
+          name: true,
           rounds: {
             select: { id: true, name: true, sortOrder: true, roundType: true },
             orderBy: { sortOrder: 'asc' as const },
           },
         },
       },
+      specialAward: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
     },
   })
 
@@ -456,6 +467,15 @@ export async function getFinalizationSummary(
   const rounds = round.competition.rounds
   const nextRound = findDisplayNextRound(rounds, roundId)
 
+  // Terminal round: no further round to advance to. Passing teams are
+  // winners (possibly multiple — e.g. top 3 in the main bracket, or the
+  // recipient of a special award). The label is what we tell them they've won.
+  const winnerContext = !nextRound
+    ? round.specialAward
+      ? { label: round.specialAward.name, awardId: round.specialAward.id }
+      : { label: round.competition.name, awardId: null }
+    : null
+
   // Get all project states with project details
   const projectStates = await prisma.projectRoundState.findMany({
     where: { roundId },
@@ -611,6 +631,7 @@ export async function getFinalizationSummary(
       conceptProposed,
     },
     nextRound: nextRound ? { id: nextRound.id, name: nextRound.name } : null,
+    winnerContext,
     accountStats: { needsInvite, hasAccount },
   }
 }
@@ -634,12 +655,14 @@ export async function confirmFinalization(
       competition: {
         select: {
           id: true,
+          name: true,
           rounds: {
             select: { id: true, name: true, sortOrder: true, roundType: true },
             orderBy: { sortOrder: 'asc' as const },
           },
         },
       },
+      specialAward: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
     },
   })
 
@@ -668,7 +691,15 @@ export async function confirmFinalization(
   // Display name for emails / notifications: skip MENTORING rounds so the
   // copy reflects the shared destination (e.g. "Grand Finale") rather than
   // the opt-in mentoring step.
-  const targetRoundName = findDisplayNextRound(rounds, roundId)?.name ?? 'Next Round'
+  const displayNextRound = findDisplayNextRound(rounds, roundId)
+  const targetRoundName = displayNextRound?.name ?? 'Next Round'
+
+  // Terminal round: no further round to advance to. Passing teams are
+  // winners — of the special award if one is attached, otherwise of the
+  // competition itself (where there may be multiple winners, e.g. top 3).
+  const winnerLabel = !displayNextRound
+    ? round.specialAward?.name ?? round.competition.name
+    : null
 
   // Execute finalization in a transaction
   const result = await prisma.$transaction(async (tx: Prisma.TransactionClient) => {
@@ -914,26 +945,48 @@ export async function confirmFinalization(
           const token = recipient.userId ? inviteTokenMap.get(recipient.userId) : undefined
           const accountUrl = token ? `/accept-invite?token=${token}` : undefined
 
-          notificationItems.push({
-            email: recipient.email,
-            name: recipient.name || '',
-            type: 'ADVANCEMENT_NOTIFICATION',
-            context: {
-              title: 'Your project has advanced!',
-              message: '',
-              linkUrl: accountUrl || '/applicant',
-              metadata: {
-                projectName: prs.project.title,
-                fromRoundName: round.name,
-                toRoundName: targetRoundName,
-                customMessage: options.advancementMessage || undefined,
-                accountUrl,
+          if (winnerLabel) {
+            notificationItems.push({
+              email: recipient.email,
+              name: recipient.name || '',
+              type: 'AWARD_WINNER_NOTIFICATION',
+              context: {
+                title: 'Your project has won!',
+                message: '',
+                linkUrl: accountUrl || '/applicant',
+                metadata: {
+                  projectName: prs.project.title,
+                  awardName: winnerLabel,
+                  customMessage: options.advancementMessage || undefined,
+                  accountUrl,
+                },
               },
-            },
-            projectId: prs.projectId,
-            userId: recipient.userId || undefined,
-            roundId: round.id,
-          })
+              projectId: prs.projectId,
+              userId: recipient.userId || undefined,
+              roundId: round.id,
+            })
+          } else {
+            notificationItems.push({
+              email: recipient.email,
+              name: recipient.name || '',
+              type: 'ADVANCEMENT_NOTIFICATION',
+              context: {
+                title: 'Your project has advanced!',
+                message: '',
+                linkUrl: accountUrl || '/applicant',
+                metadata: {
+                  projectName: prs.project.title,
+                  fromRoundName: round.name,
+                  toRoundName: targetRoundName,
+                  customMessage: options.advancementMessage || undefined,
+                  accountUrl,
+                },
+              },
+              projectId: prs.projectId,
+              userId: recipient.userId || undefined,
+              roundId: round.id,
+            })
+          }
         } else {
           notificationItems.push({
             email: recipient.email,
@@ -964,9 +1017,11 @@ export async function confirmFinalization(
     if (advancedUserIds.size > 0) {
       createBulkNotifications({
         userIds: [...advancedUserIds],
-        type: 'project_advanced',
-        title: 'Your project has advanced!',
-        message: `Your project has advanced from "${round.name}" to "${targetRoundName}".`,
+        type: winnerLabel ? 'project_won' : 'project_advanced',
+        title: winnerLabel ? 'Your project has won!' : 'Your project has advanced!',
+        message: winnerLabel
+          ? `Your project has been selected as a winner of "${winnerLabel}". Our team will reach out about next steps.`
+          : `Your project has advanced from "${round.name}" to "${targetRoundName}".`,
         linkUrl: '/applicant',
         linkLabel: 'View Dashboard',
         icon: 'Trophy',