Au Pair in America® is excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Au Pair of the Year Award! Winners of this annual award are recognized for their exceptional dedication to the au pair program and for representing what it means to be an Au Pair in America au pair. To be selected for this award, au pairs must first be nominated by their host families, who send in a short essay highlighting the distinct characteristics that make their au pair truly special. This year’s winners truly shined—stepping up during unexpected crises, supporting children with special needs, and forming meaningful bonds that will last a lifetime.
Read on to discover what makes these au pairs so exceptional—and the reasons their host families nominated them for the 2026 Au Pair of the Year Award.
1st Place: Gabriela from Poland
For providing extraordinary support and compassion—and sticking with her host family through an unthinkable disaster—Au Pair in America is thrilled to name Gabriela as the winner of the 2026 Au Pair of the Year Award. As her host mom recalls, they knew Gabriela was a perfect match for their family as soon as she arrived:
“When Gabby arrived from Poland in March of 2024, it felt like she was always meant to be with us. From the very first day, she brought warmth, patience, and joy.”
Right from the beginning, Gabriela was crucial in helping their family adjust to their son’s recent autism diagnosis:
“Our youngest son had just been diagnosed with autism in February. We were busy learning new skills, routines, and how to best support him. Gabby didn’t just help, she became a steady presence for him, encouraging him, celebrating his progress, and helping him thrive. She even helped explain and normalize the diagnosis for our two older kids.”
Then, in January 2025, tragedy struck. When the Palisades fire tore through their community and family home, Gabriela became an unshakeable source of comfort for a family facing the unimaginable:
“In January 2025, the unexpected happened: the Palisades fire swept through our community. Smoke filled the sky and we needed to evacuate quickly. Our children watched the sky darken as we drove away. Gabby sat with us in the car telling them it was going to be okay. The next morning, videos confirmed the worst: our house, our street, our school, our community, everything our family knew and loved was gone.”
In the weeks that followed, as their family began the long process of rebuilding, Gabriela remained their constant—gently helping the children find their footing again:
“The first days were hard. The kids were confused and sad. They had lost everything they had ever known. Gabby was there, quietly helping them find comfort. She played, read, and went to the donation centers for small items that gave them something familiar to hold on to. She helped keep routines alive when everything else disappeared… She has been a steady hand for us as parents, helping us navigate challenges with patience, care, and laughter.
Life after the fire hasn’t been easy, but with Gabby’s steady care and the love we share as a family, our children have begun to smile and play again.”
2nd Place: Michaela from the Czech Republic
When host mom Jessica describes her household, she calls it a “busy family of six.” With four children of varying ages and two parents who are both airline pilots, flexibility is crucial. The family has hosted au pairs for over a decade, but this year with Michaela truly stood out:
“We have been hosting au pairs since 2012, many of whom we still keep in touch with. So it’s safe to say we have seen a lot and we are very experienced. We have never felt so sure that our au pair was the Au Pair of the Year until now.”
Michaela arrived from the Czech Republic in 2024 and stepped into a family crisis almost immediately. Just days before her arrival, the family’s four-year-old son broke his femur. The morning Michaela landed in Denver, he was in urgent surgery.
Michaela’s flexibility carried the family through a year of significant change: the passing of their beloved family dog, a cross-country move from Colorado to Oregon, and emotional challenges their children faced. When their oldest son struggled socially and emotionally at the end of middle school, Michaela became a steady presence who taught him, and their other children, how to manage tumultuous emotions:
“Michaela was always supportive and patient and allowed him to be upset and vulnerable. She has been a confidant to both of my older boys while still being a nurturer to my two younger kids. This has been so helpful for me as their mother to teach emotional regulation through these major life events.”
After their big move to Lake Oswego, Oregon, Michaela quickly helped the children adjust to their new home, finding new parks, coordinating the children’s schedules, and earning the title of “the ultimate taxi driver” as the older boys explored their new surroundings.
In a household with constantly shifting pilot schedules and unexpected family events, Michaela provided much-needed childcare assistance and emotional support that kept everyone on track:
“I’m often asked how we manage a home with four kids and two parents who are pilots. My answer is always our wonderful au pair. Michaela updates the family calendar, she receives all the school emails, and she has the bus schedules down perfectly. She’s flexible when our pilot schedules change. She really is the glue that has kept our family together through all the recent transitions and life events.”
As they prepare to celebrate their final months together, this host family knows Michaela’s place in their family will continue long after her program ends.
3rd Place: Lou from France
As soon as she arrived in Temple Terrace, Florida, Lou made herself an essential part of the Glosser household. Her host mom shared:
“Lou is patient, kind, joyful, and loving with our children. She finds creative ways to navigate the day, including the parts they fuss about. She is firm but warm. She has helped them grow their emotional regulation skills, especially with our son who has autism and anxiety.”
Even on the toughest of days, Lou remained a steady source of support:
“As parents, we know that not every moment is easy. Lou has been invaluable in the more challenging times. Sick days, doctor’s appointments, host parents getting stuck at work, you name it. I’ve never actually heard her complain. She has a positive go-getter attitude and truly seems unflappable.”
Lou’s warmth touched the whole family, not just their household. Her host family’s paternal grandmother described Lou as “magical with the children… and magical with the adults,” while the family’s maternal grandparents called her “exemplary in every way,” noting that “[she] does things without asking and the kids loved her from the beginning.”
That same initiative showed up in unexpected ways, too, including making sure her host parents actually got a night off. As her host mom explained:
“She often encourages us to go out on dates on the weekend and offers to work on the weekends, which is awesome.”
Through the easy days and the hard ones, Lou has shown up with patience, warmth, and a joy that is simply contagious, making her very deserving as a winner of the Au Pair of the Year Award.
Honorable Mentions
After receiving so many amazing host family testimonials, it was difficult to choose just three. Au Pair in America received an incredible outpouring of nominations from host families across the U.S. While we can’t recognize every au pair who made an unforgettable impact on their family (there are just too many!), we wanted to recognize three honorable mentions who became irreplaceable parts of their host families’ lives.
Natalia from Colombia
Hosted in Peachtree City, Georgia, Natalia provided unwavering care, love, and stability to three children, including an infant and a child with severe autism who remains completely non-verbal at the age of eight. When Natalia’s host dad became seriously ill and spent months undergoing treatment, Natalia’s support became truly invaluable.
“During that incredibly difficult time, Natalia stepped in and truly saved our family.”—Natalia’s host dad
Patrice from Germany
Patrice from Germany joined the Skidmore family in Washington, D.C. during one of the hardest chapters of their lives. The family was grieving the recent loss of their husband and father, who died unexpectedly during his military service. Patrice’s compassionate support and much-needed childcare assistance made all the difference for host mom Natalie and her two children:
“In processing our grief, we’ve had to lean into joy. Because we have Patrice, my kids and I can live our lives more fully and more joyfully.”—Natalie, host mom
Ana Paula from Argentina
Hosted in Scarsdale, New York, Ana Paula brought a special skill set to her role—as a trained speech therapist, she was uniquely equipped to support their autistic son, and her warmth and humor meant both boys adored her. Her strong bonds and dedication made such an impact that the Vegas were extremely grateful when she decided to extend her program with them for a second year.
“Ana is one of the most loving and supportive people we’ve ever met. She truly loves our kids and enjoys spending time with all of us as a family and always goes above and beyond—making sure the boys feel safe, supported, and happy.”
Just like these incredible au pairs, Au Pair in America is committed to going above and beyond for families like yours. Discover just how great an au pair can be when you host with Au Pair in America!
These six au pairs are a wonderful reminder of what Au Pair in America has always believed: that the best childcare is about genuine connection and support that truly feels like family. Every Au Pair in America au pair goes through a rigorous application and screening process, so you can feel confident that your family is in the very best hands. Are you ready to find an extraordinary au pair for your family?
