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Awards for Planning Excellence 2026

The RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2026 showcase and celebrate the best plans, projects, homes and people. 

Now in its 49th year, our coveted awards recognise and highlight the positive contribution that planning professionals make in the communities we serve around the world.  

Congratulations to the shortlisted entries in the nations and regions

Judging has taken place in the nations and regions and we are excited to announce the regional shortlist.

We are looking forward to meeting and giving recognition to the planners and teams who have delivered such inspiring work this past year. Visit the nations and regions pages to find out more including how to book onto the celebration events:

The winners in the nations and regions become national finalists.*

High scoring shortlisted project entries from the nations and regions are also put through for judging in the national awards and will be judged against the other projects in their selected categories for the national finalist list. The remaining four direct to national categories** are also judged to complete the national finalist list of 16 categories.  

The national finalists will be announced on 7 October. And the winners will be honoured at a celebration ceremony taking place in London on 3 December.

*All Young Planner of the Year winners will be entered into the national shortlist and will be judged by the national judges and the top five will become national finalists.  

**national categories

  • Excellence in Digital Planning Practice
  • International Award for Planning Excellence
  • In-house Planning Team of the Year
  • Large Planning Consultancy of the Year
Winning Young Planner of the Year is an immense honour and I’m excited to champion and celebrate the outstanding contributions being made by other young planners across the institute. It was a privilege to be considered alongside so many high calibre finalists from across the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed the judging process which allowed me to reflect authentically on my career to date and share my genuine thoughts on the future of the profession.
Bart Shirm MRTPI, Senior Planning Policy Officer
Strategic Planning and Transportation, Directorate of Place, Sandwell MBC

Key dates for 2026

  • June/July – winners announced in the nations and regions (dates above)
  • August/September – National awards judging
  • 7 October – National finalists announced
  • 3 December – National RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence ceremony 

For more information

If you have any questions, or are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact awards@rtpi.org.uk.

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors
SLR
Headline sponsor
KDH Associates
Entertainment sponsor
Howden
Category sponsor
KEW Planning
Category sponsor
No 5 Chambers
Headline sponsor
Carrington West
After-party sponsor
Public Practice
Category sponsor
Vistry
Category sponsor
The awards are marketed to our 27,000 members across the UK and internationally, giving all sponsors fantastic industry visibility.

Frequently asked questions