The Hustle Awards are back for 2026
The Hustle Awards is back for 2026, and will be better than ever. The awards are the perfect opportunity for startups and businesses to showcase their achievements, gain industry recognition, and celebrate all of the great work they are doing! Entries open on the 12th January, so take some time to explore the categories, and decide which ones you want to enter.
The Hustle Awards recognises the best innovation, passion, creativity, and dedication in the ecosystem.
We celebrate the outstanding achievements of businesses, individuals, and new ideas, and ensure they get the credit and celebration they deserve. Make sure you enter to give your startup and yourself a chance to shine.
Key dates for the Hustle Awards 2026
- 12th January 2026: entries open
- 27th March: entries close
- 13th April: the judging process begins
- 9th July: the Hustle Awards evening celebration
Categories for the Hustle Awards 2026
As always, there is a category for everyone at the Hustle Awards. Here is the list of categories for this year:
- Founder of the Year
- Early-stage Innovation Award
- Top Performing Team
- Inspirational Woman of the Industry
- Most Innovative Tech
- Social Impact Hero(es)
- Sustainability Award
- Outstanding Startups Support
- Workspace of the Year
- Game-changing Investor Award
- Most Successful Scaleup
- Reader’s Choice Award
More information and entry guidelines will go live once the entry portal has opened, so keep your eyes peeled!
Testimonials from past winners
“This is the award ceremony that hard working startups need, a party, a time to celebrate, not rigid and traditional, it’s forward thinking like the majority of the founders in the room,” said Lee Chambers Founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing and winner of Most Innovative Tech 2023.
“Without a doubt the most credible startup awards in the country. So scooping one of the headline tech awards catapulted us to the top of investor and partner conversations,” commented Thomas Vosper, Founder of Aisle 3 and 2022 winner of Most Innovative Tech.
Dr Pauldy Otermans, Otermans Institute and 2022 winner of Inspirational Woman of the Industry, mentioned: "Being nominated for the first time at the Hustle Awards was in itself a brilliant surprise. Winning it was extraordinary! Since then, I have also been named as one of the 22 inspirational women of 2022 and I am grateful for the part my recognition at the Hustle Awards may have played in it. Finally, I really loved the organisational style of the event and it led to many, many connections.”
Being shortlisted or winning will provide your business with the highest level of credibility when securing funding, will improve brand visibility through extensive PR and marketing opportunities, and help attract and retain top class talent.
Register your interest here, and be first to know when entries are open!
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