BY CLARE MCGINN, Founder of Napoleon’s Nose Creative Media
Northern Ireland’s food, drink and farming businesses have a rare chance to step onto a
UK stage this year, and it only takes one nomination to put a brilliant person, project or
business in front of the BBC Food & Farming Awards judges.
For the first time in their 26-year history, the BBC Food & Farming Awards are coming to
Northern Ireland, with the 2026 ceremony taking place in the Titanic Suite at Titanic
Belfast on 21 October.
Nominations are open now, free to enter, and close at 12 noon on Monday 15 June.
People can nominate themselves, their own business, or someone else they believe
deserves national recognition. The process is straightforward, and there is no entry fee.
The Awards were launched at Highgrove by Charles III (then Prince Charles) in 2000 to
mark the 20th anniversary of BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme. Since then, they have
celebrated more than 450 finalists from over 75,000 nominations across Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.
This year’s Awards bring together BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, Farming Today,
Countryfile, Saturday Kitchen, The Archers and BBC Radio Ulster, with wider BBC
coverage helping to share the stories of shortlisted nominees and winners with audiences
across the UK.
For Northern Ireland, this is a significant opportunity to put our food, drink and farming
story firmly on the map.
Food retail, food and drink production, hospitality, restaurants and farming are central to
our economy and identity. From farms, bakeries, dairies, fisheries and distilleries to cafés,
farm shops, food innovators and social enterprises, there is outstanding work happening
here every day. Much of it is excellent. Much of it is distinctive. Much of it is still too
quiet.
The 2026 categories include Best Food Producer, Best Drinks Producer, Digital Creator,
Farming for the Future, Food Innovation, Countryfile Young Countryside Champion and
the Derek Cooper Outstanding Achievement Award.
There is also a special Northern Ireland category for 2026: the BBC Radio Ulster Food
Hero Award, designed to recognise local individual producers and social enterprises
producing high-quality, home-grown, seasonal food that reflects Northern Ireland’s
distinctive flavours and cuisine.
Nominations were launched recently at The Balmoral Show with Paula McIntyre, this
year’s Head Judge; BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson; DAERA Minister Andrew Muir;
Food NI CEO Michele Shirlow MBE; and Sheila Dillon, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The
Food Programme and one of the founders of the Awards.
A short Napoleon’s Nose podcast, recorded at Balmoral Show with Sheila Dillon and
Paula McIntyre, explains the history of the Awards, the legacy of founder Derek Cooper,
and why this year matters so much for Northern Ireland.
Listen to the podcast Click here:
The call to Belfast Chamber members is simple: take a few minutes now and think of the
people and businesses who deserve to be seen.
A farmer doing thoughtful work. A producer making something distinctive. A drinks
maker putting their place on the map. A young person changing the countryside story. A
food innovator solving a real problem. A social enterprise feeding people with dignity. A
quiet food hero who would probably never put themselves forward.
These Awards can bring serious benefits: national BBC attention, industry recognition,
new customers, stronger credibility, and a chance for Northern Ireland’s food and
farming talent to be seen by a much wider audience.
Northern Ireland has every reason to compete strongly this year. The only mistake would
be leaving good people out because nobody thought to nominate them.
Nominate yourself, your business, or someone whose work deserves to be seen. It is free,
straightforward, and open now.
Nominations close at 12 noon on Monday 15 June.
Nominate now through the BBC Food & Farming Awards website:
The event is supported by Food NI with funding from the Department of Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs.