Eastside Awards 2026

The Eastside Awards are back for 2026, and solv is delighted to once again be supporting the awards as they celebrate the people, businesses and organisations that make East Belfast such a special place to live, work and visit.

Now entering their 11th year, the Eastside Awards, in association with Belfast City Airport, have officially opened nominations for 2026 – beginning the search for this year’s local heroes, businesses, volunteers, community organisations and young people deserving of recognition.

Representatives from solv recently joined fellow sponsors and members of the Eastside Awards committee at Titanic Belfast to mark the launch and kick off another year of celebrating the very best of East Belfast.

Celebrating the best of East Belfast

The Eastside Awards have grown to become a major date in the Belfast calendar, recognising achievements across business, community, education, sport, arts and culture, tourism, health and wellbeing and volunteering.

Earlier this year, more than 450 people gathered at Titanic Belfast for the milestone 10th Eastside Awards. Now, the search begins for the people and organisations who will be recognised at the 11th awards ceremony in January 2027.

And one of the things we particularly like about the Eastside Awards is that the local community plays such a big part in deciding who receives that recognition.

From the businesses you return to time and again to the people quietly making a difference in their community, the awards are an opportunity to shine a light on those who make East Belfast what it is.

solv returns as Favourite Hairdresser/Barber sponsor

This year, we’re pleased to once again sponsor the 2026 Eastside Award for Favourite Hairdresser/Barber.

East Belfast certainly isn’t short of brilliant hairdressers and barbers, and this category gives customers the chance to show some appreciation for their favourite local businesses and the people behind them.

But that’s just one of the many categories now open for public nominations.

Other categories recognise East Belfast’s favourite family businesses, bars and restaurants and beauty businesses, alongside local volunteers, teachers, sports teams, tourism and hospitality heroes, Translink bus drivers and those helping to celebrate the area’s heritage and history.

There are also application categories recognising achievements including Business Growth, Business Startup, Best Place to Work, Community Impact, Arts and Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Sustainable Business of the Year and Young Person of the Year.

Know someone who deserves recognition?

This is where you come in.

If there’s an individual, business, organisation or team in East Belfast that you think deserves some recognition, we’d encourage you to put their name forward.

As Jonathan McAlpin, Chair of the Eastside Awards Committee and Chief Executive of East Belfast Enterprise, said at this year’s launch:

“The strength of the Eastside Awards is that they belong to the community. The public nominations and votes demonstrate just how passionate people are about championing their local businesses, organisations and individuals.”

Nominations and applications are open until Friday 16 October 2026.

The finalists will then come together for the Eastside Awards ceremony at Titanic Belfast on Friday 29 January 2027, hosted by broadcaster Tara Mills.

Get your nominations in

We’re proud to continue supporting an initiative that celebrates so many of the people and organisations doing great things right here in East Belfast – where solv is also proud to call home.

So, who do you think deserves an Eastside Award in 2026?

Get your nominations in before Friday 16 October.

Nominate and view the 2026 categories or you can learn more about the Eastside Awards here.