Inherent brittleness, which easily leads to crack formation and propagation during use, is a serious problem for protective ceramic thin-film applications. Superlattice architectures, with alternating nm-thick layers of typically softer/stiffer materials, have been proven powerful method to improve the mechanical performance of, e.g., cubic transition metal nitride ceramics. Using high-throughput first-principles calculations, we propose that superlattice structures hold promise also for enhancing mechanical properties and fracture resistance of transition metal diborides with two competing hexagonal phases, $$\alpha$$
α
and $$\omega$$
ω
. We study 264 possible combinations of $$\alpha /\alpha$$
α
/
α
, $$\alpha /\omega$$
α
/
ω
or $$\omega /\omega$$
ω
/
ω
MB$$_2$$
2
(where M $$=$$
=
Al or group 3–6 transition metal) diboride superlattices. Based on energetic stability considerations, together with restrictions for lattice and shear modulus mismatch ($$\Delta a<4\%$$
Δ
a
<
4
%
, $$\Delta G>40$$
Δ
G
>
40
GPa), we select 33 superlattice systems for further investigations. The identified systems are analysed in terms of mechanical stability and elastic constants, $$C_{ij}$$
C
ij
, where the latter provide indication of in-plane vs. out-of-plane strength ($$C_{11}$$
C
11
, $$C_{33}$$
C
33
) and ductility ($$C_{13}-C_{44}$$
C
13
-
C
44
, $$C_{12}-C_{66}$$
C
12
-
C
66
). The superlattice ability to resist brittle cleavage along interfaces is estimated by Griffith’s formula for fracture toughness. The $$\alpha /\alpha$$
α
/
α
-type TiB$$_2$$
2
/MB$$_2$$
2
(M $$=$$
=
Mo, W), HfB$$_2$$
2
/WB$$_2$$
2
, VB$$_2$$
2
/MB$$_2$$
2
(M $$=$$
=
Cr, Mo), NbB$$_2$$
2
/MB$$_2$$
2
(M $$=$$
=
Mo, W), and $$\alpha /\omega$$
α
/
ω
-type AlB$$_2$$
2
/MB$$_2$$
2
(M $$=$$
=
Nb, Ta, Mo, W), are suggested as the most promising candidates providing atomic-scale basis for enhanced toughness and resistance to crack growth.