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Finalists Announced for the 15th Creative Edinburgh Awards

26 October 2026

Join us on 13 November at Central Hall for a night of celebration, live music and dancing

Creative Edinburgh is delighted to announce the finalists for the 2026 Creative Edinburgh Awards. Following over 140 nominations from across the city's creative community, 32 individuals, organisations and projects have made the shortlist across eight categories, and tickets to celebrate with them at the 15th anniversary ceremony are now on sale.

Thinking about this year’s milestone Ola Wojtkiewicz, Executive Director at Creative Edinburgh, said:

“As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Creative Edinburgh Awards, we’re proud of their role in building the city’s creative legacy - recognising local talent, amplifying ambitious projects and celebrating the people and places making a lasting difference to their communities.

The Awards are about more than recognition; they bring together artists, communities, organisations and funders, strengthening the connections that help creativity thrive. This reflects our commitment to supporting creative entrepreneurship and contributing to Edinburgh’s Culture and Wellbeing Strategy. We’re equally proud of the longstanding partnerships that make the Awards possible - a testament to the power of a connected, collaborative city.”

MEET THE FINALISTS

Community Award

  • Pianodrome
  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra
  • Screen Education
  • Summerhall Arts 

Inclusion Award

  • Edinburgh Community Performing Arts
  • HIV Aloud: Raise the Curtain with Edinburgh Playhouse and Waverley Care
  • Out of Sight Out of Mind Exhibition
  • Screen Education Edinburgh

Collaboration Award

  • Dementia-Friendly Workshops with Space Beacon Club and Edinburgh International Festival
  • HIV Aloud: Raise the Curtain with Edinburgh Playhouse and Waverley Care
  • Manipulate Arts & WHALE Arts - Ocho Project
  • Starcatchers Productions Ltd

Development Award

  • Darren Wilkie
  • Fiona Linton
  • Hannah Ayre
  • Rachel Barlow

Festivals Award - Sponsored by The List

  • Edinburgh Arts Festival
  • Hidden Door
  • Manipulate Festival
  • Summerhall Arts 

Innovation Award

  • Heads on Crooked
  • The Pend
  • Trevor Jones
  • Where Are The Disabled Photographers?

Leadership Award - Sponsored by Screen Scotland

  • Jess Abrams - Lecturer in Community Music at Edinburgh College
  • Kat Brooks - Leader of The Phoenix Choir
  • Susie Gray - Executive Director of Premier Scotland
  • Suzanne Lofthus - Artistic Director of Cutting Edge Theatre

Student Awards

  • Floria Paul
  • The Edinburgh College Game Society
  • Romana Docherty
  • Lok Pui Lo

An evening to remember

The 2026 Awards will take place on 13 November at Central Hall, Edinburgh, and this year's ceremony promises to be the most special yet.

The evening will be opened with a welcome speech from Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, before we crown this year's winners and celebrate fifteen years of creativity and innovation in the city. Our MC for the evening will be Katie Ailes of I Am Loud CIC, a talented spoken word artist.

When asked to give comment Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, said:

"Congratulations to all the finalists of this year's Creative Edinburgh Awards. Reaching the shortlist from over 140 nominations is a real achievement and reflects the depth of talent and ambition within Edinburgh's creative community.

“For fifteen years, these Awards have celebrated the individuals, organisations and projects that bring culture and creativity to life in our capital, and the partnerships that help that creativity flourish. I'm delighted to join the celebrations this November, and I wish every finalist the very best of luck."

Tinderbox Orchestra have been commissioned, through a partnership with the National Centre for Music & Dunard Centre, to do two special performances on the night. Tinderbox Collective is a community of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers supporting their members to build confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience. We’re thrilled to have them with us on the night.

The winners’ trophies have once again been designed by students at Edinburgh College who are ongoing collaborators of the Creative Edinburgh Awards. The students’ talent and work ethic never fail to impress, their designs are sure to look fantastic in the hands of this year’s winners.

Ticket holders will also enjoy benefits from our wonderful in-kind sponsors, Dishoom and Thistly Cross Cider. Dishoom, the much-loved Indian restaurant and bar inspired by the Irani cafés of Bombay, will be serving a selection of mocktails alongside light sweet bites, while Scotland’s leading independent craft cider producer, Thistly Cross, will have options straight from the East Lothian coast. Together they are making every ticket go further, with complimentary drinks that let guests toast the finalists, the winners and fifteen years of Edinburgh creativity without reaching for their wallets.

Hungry? Food will be available to buy from Grassmarket Community Project, who catered last year's Awards and went down a treat with the community.

Get your tickets

Whether you're cheering on a finalist, catching up with the city's creative community or joining us for the first time to find out what’s happening in the city, we'd love to see you there. Tickets are limited, so don't miss out and purchase yours today. We have kept the ticket price unchanged over the last three years to make sure that they are affordable for all. 

Get your tickets here.

Thank you to our sponsors

Brian Donaldson, Editor of The List, our Media Partner, said:

“Within the vibrant cultural hub of Edinburgh, the Creative Edinburgh Awards play a vital role in highlighting the city's talent and helping them make a breakthrough in their chosen field. The List is delighted to partner with the awards as they mark 15 years of celebrating Edinburgh's grassroots projects and local artists.”

Creative Edinburgh would like to thank this year's Awards sponsors for making the evening possible: Black Goblin, Bright Signals, Business Gateway Edinburgh, Creative Tech Scotland Gathering, The Edinburgh Minute, First Stage Studios, Leith Agency, Screen Scotland, The List and The Sunshine Agency. Special thanks also go to our in-kind sponsors Dishoom and Thistly Cross Cider.