For nearly 50 years, the HSJ Awards have provided a national platform to recognise the most impactful projects, best practice initiatives, and innovations shaping the future of NHS care. They are widely regarded as one of the most respected awards programmes in UK healthcare, celebrating excellence across the health and care system.
Entries for the HSJ Awards 2026 are now open, offering teams the opportunity to benchmark their work, share learning, and gain national recognition for the difference they are making.
Entering the HSJ Awards provides an opportunity to:
Shortlisted and winning entries contribute to a wider picture of what works in improving care, outcomes, and experiences across the NHS.
This year’s programme includes 25 categories, spanning leadership, workforce development, patient care, and innovation. The 2026 awards also introduce three new categories, reflecting shifting NHS priorities and a growing focus on neighbourhood working, pathway redesign, and reducing inequalities:
These sit alongside a wide range of established categories covering system working, digital transformation, patient safety, staff wellbeing, and service improvement.
All submissions are judged against a published scoring criteria matrix, which outlines the key areas judges will use to assess entries. This includes consideration of ambition, collaboration, impact, sustainability, and how learning can be shared or scaled.
Teams are encouraged to review the scoring criteria before starting their submission to ensure their entry clearly demonstrates the impact and value of their work.
The HSJ Awards are free to enter, but teams will need to register on the dedicated awards platform before starting an application.
Additional guidance is available through the HSJ Awards FAQs, and the awards team can be contacted directly for support with the entry process.
