Entries open for HR Leadership & Management Awards 2026

Entries are now open for the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2026, with Ireland's leading HR practitioners invited to showcase excellence across talent management, culture transformation, and employee engagement ahead of the deadline in June.

The 2026 timeline operates across three phases: entries close June 19th, finalists announced August 17th, and the awards gala held October 15th. This structured process ensures rigorous evaluation while providing shortlisted organisations with advance notice to prepare for ceremony attendance and leverage finalist status in external communications.

The awards ceremony will take place on October 15th, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, where winners will join the community of organisations recognised for driving innovation and setting benchmark standards across Ireland's HR sector.

Since its launch in 2015, the HR Leadership & Management Awards have provided Ireland's premier platform for celebrating HR excellence, recognising the profession's role in driving economic prosperity and organisational performance. The programme annually brings together hundreds of senior executives to acknowledge achievements across categories spanning diversity, leadership development, employee engagement, recruitment, rewards, and strategic HR innovation.

Entry provides organisations with independent assessment from expert judging panels, benchmarking against Ireland's leading HR practitioners, and strategic positioning that supports talent attraction and client development. Shortlisting alone generates national profile elevation, while winners receive comprehensive media coverage alongside the prestigious trophy that marks recognition at the sector's highest level.

Categories cover the full spectrum of HR practice, from specialist functions such as internal communications, graduate development, and rewards strategy to broader organisational achievements in workplace diversity, change management, and overall HR excellence. Whether leading transformation in established corporations or building HR infrastructure in emerging organisations, practitioners across all sectors and team sizes are encouraged to enter categories aligned with their areas of achievement.

The question for Ireland's HR community is clear: which teams, leaders, and organisations will define excellence in 2026? Entries are open now. Submit your achievements, demonstrate your impact, and position your organisation among Ireland's HR elite.

Visit the official HR Leadership & Management Awards website to review award categories and access entry guidance. For detailed submission instructions, see How to Enter before the June 19th deadline.