UK Festival Awards return this December – Enter now

The UK Festival Awards are back! And if your festival delivered something special over the 2026 season, now is the time to make some noise about it.

Taking place at Manchester’s DIECAST on Tuesday 1st December, the ceremony will bring together the people and teams moving the festival industry forward. From standout stages and emerging-talent initiatives to smarter site design and unforgettable audience experiences, this is a chance to put your team’s work in the spotlight.

Powered by Festival Insights, the UK Festival Awards celebrate the breadth of the UK’s festival scene and the organisers who make it what it is.

More ways to be recognised

This year’s awards introduce a refreshed application process. Judging criteria have changed, with a broader, more diverse judging panel now overseeing entries, and there’s a list of brand-new categories for festivals to enter their name into, meaning more opportunities for events of all sizes and styles to be recognised for the work that often goes overlooked.

A night for the people behind the scenes

Last year’s 20th edition welcomed more than 500 of the festival industry’s finest for a night of feasting, top-drawer entertainment and partying – as only the festival lot know how to. More than 20 festivals took to the stage to collect an award.

This December, the industry will come together once again to celebrate the achievements, ideas and hard graft that made the 2026 festival season one to remember.

Whether your festival is established or emerging, this is your opportunity to show the rest of the sector what you have achieved and pick up an accolade in the process.

For guidance on entering your festival and to explore the full list of award categories, visit the link below.