NHS ConfedExpo has launched a new set of awards to help its mission to ‘spread the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS’.
The 2026 NHS Excellence Awards offers ten categories, each of which aims to highlight the innovative work across clinical and non-clinical disciplines, that is transforming health and care. They are free to enter for ICBs, NHS Trusts, primary care providers, national organisations – as long as the nomination focuses on work delivered at a local level – and partnership work involving local authorities, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. The full entry criteria are available here.
The judging process will initially take place on a regional basis, with a champion agreed for each category. The national winner will be selected from these shortlists and announced at a ceremony during NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
The work of each award winner will be shared as widely as possible with other NHS organisations after the event. NHS England will work with the winners, each of whom will also be invited to take part in a formal interview about their work during the conference. This will be recorded for wider sharing.
Entries are open now and will close at 5pm on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Award categories
• Delivering value
• Digital innovation
• Improving health outcomes
• Neighbourhood health
• Patient involvement and choice
• Quality improvement
• Sustainable healthcare
• Valuing our people
• Working in partnership
• Leadership
See the full summary of each award category here, as well as details of how to enter.
