By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Ian Hyland, President & CEO of Business & Finance Media Group, Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner of KPMG Ireland, Julie Sinnamon, Chairperson of the Judging Panel and Tom Wood, Head of Clients & Markets, KPMG.
The 2026 Business & Finance Awards, in association with KPMG, will take place on 10 December at the Convention Centre, Dublin.
By Emma Montalbani
The Business & Finance Awards, in association with KPMG, return for their 52nd edition. Nominations are now open across several prestigious categories. These categories honour and celebrate the very best in Irish and international business.
Ian Hyland, President/Publisher of Business & Finance, said that he is “Delighted to formally announce the 52nd Business & Finance Awards. Along with our partners KPMG, we look forward to recognising and celebrating the leaders and organisations shaping the future of business both domestically and internationally.”
He then commented on the enduring legacy of the Programme, stating that it is reflected not only in the exceptional business achievements recognised each year, but also in the global figures who have been honoured through the programme over many decades.
Since their launch in 1974, the Awards have recognised some of the most outstanding leaders of our time. These leaders span business, politics, and wider society.
Notable past honourees have included Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Mario Draghi, Christine Lagarde, Kofi Annan, Ursula von der Leyen, President Clinton, President Mary Robinson, and Sir John Major, to name a few.
Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner at KPMG, said that The Business & Finance Awards continue to reflect the ambition, resilience and innovation that define Irish enterprise.
“As companies navigate a complex and uncertain global environment, adaptability, strategic investment and digital capability are vital to safeguarding Ireland’s reputation as a world-class place to do business”.
He then added that KPMG is proud to continue supporting this important platform that recognises and celebrates excellence across the business community.
Digital Transformation Award
This year’s programme sees an expansion of the awards categories with the addition of a brand new category: the Digital Transformation Award. This award recognises organisations that have undergone a fundamental, strategic shift in how they operate, compete, or serve customers. This shift must come through the integration of digital technology, including artificial intelligence, across the business.
Eligible organisations must demonstrate that digital tools, platforms, and data-driven thinking have driven meaningful change at scale. Where relevant, AI-powered capabilities should also be shown to contribute. These changes must improve efficiency, customer experience, or overall business outcomes.
Entries should show evidence of lasting cultural or operational change, not just a single technology deployment. Where AI has been adopted, it should be presented as an enabler of broader transformation rather than a standalone initiative.
As Julie Sinnamon, Chair of the Judging Panel, said, “The calibre of entries we see each year is consistently exceptional, reflecting both the strength and diversity of Irish business.”
Talking about the new category, she then said that the addition of the Digital Transformation Award acknowledges the strategic importance of embedding digital thinking across organisations, and that “We look forward to seeing how companies are driving meaningful, lasting change in this space.”
2026 Awards Categories
Company of the Year: Companies eligible for the Company of the Year Awards in association with KPMG are Irish businesses that, along with having a significant impact in Ireland, operate with an international focus and generate annual revenue exceeding €200 million.
Business Person of the Year: The Business Person of the Year Award, in association with KPMG, recognises an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement across their career over the past year.
Elevation Company of the Year: Companies eligible for this award, in association with Enterprise Ireland, are Irish-owned high-performing companies on their journey to achieving greater international scale to become global leaders in their field with an annual revenue ceiling of €200 million.
FDI Company of the Year: The FDI Company of the Year, in association with IDA Ireland, goes to an international company with significant investments in Ireland, while also having an impact on Irish life both economically and socially.
Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DE&I): The Business & Finance Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Award will recognise a company that is at the forefront of improving the lives of its employees while also enhancing the civic environment in which they operate.
ESG Business of the Year Award: The ESG category recognises companies making exceptional contributions across environmental, social and governance indicators, with a clear ESG strategy.
Innovation Award: This award will recognise and celebrate groundbreaking ideas, products, or processes that push the boundaries of what is possible. It highlights the pioneering spirit as a key driver of progress and success across industries. It fosters a culture of creativity and forward-thinking.
The winning company must demonstrate an innovative initiative that creates clear and positive change. This change must have a documented effect. It must also set new standards in one or more areas. The initiative should unlock new market opportunities.
Brand of the Year: This award honours a brand that has delivered outstanding performance, innovation, and audience resonance. It celebrates strategic clarity, creative excellence, and meaningful engagement. It recognises brands that have achieved commercial success while staying true to their purpose and values.
Public Enterprise of the Year: The Public Enterprise of the Year Award celebrates a state or semi-state organisation that has delivered significant economic or societal impact in Ireland through innovation, leadership, and operational excellence.
Digital Transformation Award: This award recognises organisations that have achieved a significant strategic transformation in the way they operate, compete, or serve customers through the integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, across the business.
Enter now
Interested parties can complete and submit their application via the Business & Finance Awards website.
Awards submissions consultation
Applicants may also avail of the Awards consultation service, which provides support throughout the submission process.
Submissions for the 2026 Business & Finance Awards in association with KPMG will close on July 24th.
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