Alliance Awards 2026

Now in their seventh year, we’re excited to announce the return of the Alliance Awards! The awards are our chance to celebrate the hard work and dedication of colleagues and teams across the University Alliance.  

This year the Alliance Awards will be delivered in partnership with our generous hosts the University of Derby.

Awards ceremony: Thursday 3 September 2026

Taking place on Thursday 3 September, the Alliance Awards is a red carpet event, with dinner, drinks and dancing, and will feature live entertainment from students at the university, a gala dinner and more exciting features to be announced!

We’re introducing brand new awards categories: we now have 10 in total. You can find a full description of each category below.

Nominations are now open!

Opening date: 24 March 2026 at 00:01
Closing date: 8 May 2026 at 23:59

Find out all you need to nominate in the nomination pack at this link.

Nominate an individual or team for an award using this form.

Award categories

Our ten award categories this year are:

Industry Partnerships Award

For outstanding partnerships with industry or public sector organisations.

Research Communication Award

For impactful campaigns showcasing standout research.

Teaching Innovation Award

For innovative approaches to teaching.

Research and Innovation Impact Award

For work delivering tangible real‑world impact.

Regional Impact Award

For initiatives that benefit local or regional communities.

Heroes Award sponsored by Duolingo English Test

For teams or individuals helping their institutions, staff or students to thrive.

Professional Services Award sponsored by Peridot

For exceptional service across professional services.

DTA Alumni Award

For alumni of the Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) who have demonstrated excellence in innovation or community contribution.

Student Leadership and Enterprise Award

For remarkable student achievement in leadership or enterprise (including recent graduates).

Lifetime Achievement Award

For a career of outstanding service to students, institutions and the wider sector.

Please note, we’re asking University Alliance Vice-Chancellors to suggest nominations for this award to their teams. Nominations cannot be made through the standard nomination form. If this applies to you, please email awards@unialliance.ac.uk.

With thanks to our Alliance Awards 2026 sponsor: Enfuse Group.