Nominations have opened for the Creative Edinburgh Awards 2026, as the organisation launches its search for the city’s most inspiring creative individuals, organisations and projects.

Marking the 15th anniversary of the Awards, Creative Edinburgh recently brought together a number of past winners to reflect on their achievements since receiving recognition and to encourage others to put themselves forward this year.

Since launching in 2012, the Creative Edinburgh Awards have recognised more than 150 creative individuals and organisations, celebrating contributions across the city’s arts, culture and creative sectors.

This year’s winners will be announced at a special anniversary ceremony taking place on 13 November at Central Hall, Edinburgh, with nominations open across eight categories.

Katie Ailes of I Am Loud CIC, whose Loud Poets Grand Slam Final won the Collaboration Award in 2023, said: “The thing I really love about the Creative Edinburgh Awards is that it is celebrating the creativity that is in Edinburgh year-round. Winning the award really felt like the community saying: hell yeah, we’re behind that, and we agree.”

Creative Edinburgh says one of the Awards’ greatest strengths is the lasting network it creates, with past winners continuing to collaborate and support one another long after receiving recognition.

Jiayi Chen, founder of female artist collective The Great Her and winner of the Student Award in 2023, said: “It’s not only just an award ceremony. Creative Edinburgh has monthly events; people gather together to share opinions, find ambitious people, share a similar mindset. You’re not lonely, and you have a community behind you.”

Fiona Watt, co-founder of Girls Rock School and a 2018 winner, added: “It encourages people to work towards something, knowing they’re going to get formal recognition, and it can help with applying for funding elsewhere. It’s a really good way of recognising creative effort and encouraging others to get involved.”

Several former winners also spoke about the long-term impact the Awards have had on their careers and organisations.

Independent Award winner Sarah Kwan credited the recognition with helping to create new opportunities. She said: “I was the first artist in residence for the National Museum of Scotland at their drawing event. It was opportunities like that I don’t think I would have gotten if Creative Edinburgh hadn’t supported me and given me this award.”

Suzanne Loftus of Cutting Edge Theatre, which won the Inclusion Award in 2023, said: “It opened up new funding routes straight away. We gained more credibility – we were then able to describe ourselves as an award-winning theatre company. We are now multi-year funded by Creative Scotland, and we credit the award in 2023 as the beginning of that.”

Helena Good of Daydream Believers, winner of the Collaboration and Leadership Award in 2019, reflected on the organisation’s growth since receiving the accolade. She said: “I think that Creative Edinburgh saw what we were trying to do, and in giving us that award, they were saying: yes, there’s something here. Keep dreaming big, and we believe in you.”

Encouraging this year’s nominations, Loftus added: “Just do it. It’s a game changer… thank you, Creative Edinburgh, for giving us a place at the table.”

More information can be found here.