The ABPCO Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate industry best practice in association and not-for-profit conferences and events. They are an opportunity to showcase the incredible work that is being undertaken in this sector, and the positive impact that it has. This year's Awards will be presented in Belfast on 11 December at ICC Belfast. The ABPCO Awards are free to enter and open to members and non-members.
ABPCO Award Finalists will be announced in early September!
Our Headline Event Sponsor is SEC - Scottish Event Campus.
Our Awards Dinner Networking Supper sponsor is Visit Belfast and our Newcomers Drinks sponsor is MICE Concierge. Our Student Participation sponsor is the Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX) and our Event Tech Partner is CVent. Our Awards welcome drinks sponsor is Harrogate Convention Centre and our Video Production Partner is Inclusive Digital.
If your organisation is interested in sponsoring this year's event contact Matt Stalker.
2026 ABPCO Excellence Award categories:
- Best Association Events Team - sponsored by Manchester Central
This Award recognises the events team best able to demonstrate outstanding performance and results. The submission could show how team spirit has been enhanced and should showcase how the team fosters a culture of innovation and delivers excellent customer service.
- Best Digital & Technology Provider - sponsored by Live Recruitment
This Award recognises the best digital and technology provider to work in partnership with PCOs, associations and/or industry partners. The winning application will demonstrate outstanding performance and results due to a successful partnership. It will also showcase how the provider has enabled conference innovation.
- Best EDI at a Conference - sponsored by the British Motor Museum
This Award recognises the PCO or conference team that has best demonstrated exceptional commitment to the promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion for their conference.
- Best Event by an Agency PCO (ABPCO members only) - sponsored by Full Circle Events & Exhibitions
This Award recognises the conference or event delivered by an agency PCO which best demonstrates outstanding planning and has resulted in a purposeful, impactful and engaging event.
- Best Event by an In-House PCO (ABPCO members only) - sponsored by P&J Live
This Award recognises the conference or event delivered by an in-house team which best demonstrates outstanding planning and has resulted in a purposeful, impactful and engaging event.
- Best Industry Supplier (ABPCO members only) - sponsored by Modex
This Award recognises the industry supplier that best demonstrates their positive impact on the not-for-profit/association events sector.
- Best International Conference - sponsored by Allianz Stadium Twickenham
This Award recognises the best conference or event which has taken place outside of the UK that demonstrates outstanding event organisation, and which has resulted in an innovative, impactful, and engaging event.
- Best Member Engagement - sponsored by Memcom
This Award recognises the best membership engagement via an event or a membership campaign. The winning team will be able to demonstrate outstanding innovation, performance, and results. The submission could show how you have been innovative in your approach at an event or within the membership journey.
- Best Partnership - sponsored by the Telford International Centre
This Award recognises the best partnership between PCOs, associations and/or industry partners. The winning application will demonstrate outstanding performance and results.
- NEW: Best New Conference - sponsored by the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel
This Award recognises the best new conference to be delivered for the first time since 1 June 2025.
- Best Sustainable Conference
This Award recognises the PCO or conference team that has best demonstrated exceptional commitment to the promotion of economic, social and/or environmental sustainability for their conference.
- Guiding Star - sponsored by London Excel
This Award recognises the individual working in association and not-for-profit events or as a supplier to these, who has best shown exceptional commitment to mentoring and supporting others within the industry.
- Legacy and Impact - sponsored by Bridgewater Hall
This Award recognises a team or organisation that has best shown far-reaching impact for our industry and further afield. Judges will look for tangible metrics, evidence of impact and will take into consideration how far-reaching and long-lasting the legacy could be.
- Rising Star - sponsored by the Crowne Plaza Newcastle
This Award will be presented to the individual, who has spent less than 5 years in the association and not-for-profit events industry (or as a supplier to these), who has best shown exceptional promise and made significant impact.
- Student of the Year - sponsored by Allianz Stadium Twickenham
This Award will be presented to the student, currently studying events management (or a related field) at a UK University or who has graduated in 2026, who best demonstrates exceptional promise and an outstanding approach to learning.
- Outstanding Contribution Award
This Award recognises an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to ABPCO and/or the association/not-for-profit events sector. The nomination may relate to a specific project or a longer-term contribution. To nominate, email a supporting statement of up to 250 words to hello@abpco.org by Friday 25 September (self-nomination is not accepted).
The ABPCO Executive Committee reserves the right to award the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Accommodation – Exclusive Member Rates
We have arranged discounted accommodation rates with a selection of hotels in Belfast for event attendees. Please use the relevant promo code or booking link below to access your discounted rate.
Hilton Belfast – Exclusive Member Rate
Hotel Booking:
Available Rooms – Hilton Belfast
Booking Notes:
Valid for stays on 10 and 11 December 2026.
The discount is applied automatically when booking through the link above.
Rooms are subject to availability, so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
Other Member-Discounted Hotels
Clayton Hotel Belfast | Up to 15% off | To be confirmed
Maldron Hotel Belfast | City Up to 15% off | To be confirmed
Second Nature Belfast | 15% off | Code: ABPCO
Bullitt Hotel Belfast | 10 - 15% off | Code: ABPCO2026
Moxy Belfast City | 10–15% off | Code: ADP
How to book: For the hotels listed above, select your preferred hotel and enter the relevant promo code when prompted during booking. For Hilton Belfast, please use the dedicated booking link, where the discount will be applied automatically.
All discounted rates are subject to availability and the individual hotel's booking terms.
Thursday 10 December
3pm - 5.30pm Belfast City Tour (organised by Visit Belfast)
Delegates will be guided across the city, visiting a selection of venues and attractions that highlight Belfast's vibrant events landscape. Along the way, you'll gain insight into the city's rich history, culture, and character, while discovering the experiences that make Belfast such a compelling destination for conferences, meetings, and events. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing some of the venues, stories, and experiences that make Belfast a truly memorable destination.
3pm - 5pm Christmas Craft (further details to follow)
3pm - 5pm ABPCO Workshop: Refocus, Rebalance, Reimagine - A Strategic Look at Your Event Portfolio
Association events often evolve to meet member needs—some grow, some diminish, and others cease to exist. This session will help you strategically assess your event portfolio, identifying early indicators for events that warrant investment, consolidation, amalgamation, or even closure. We will step away from the daily operational challenges to provide a broader perspective on opportunities and to pinpoint any "vanity projects".
6.30pm - 7pm ABPCO First-Timers Drinks Reception (sponsored by MICE Concierge)
First-time ABPCO event attendees are invited to join us for a newcomers drinks reception at the ICC Belfast where you can meet other ABPCO newbies.
7pm - 9pm ABPCO Excellence Awards Networking Supper (sponsored by Visit Belfast)
ICC Belfast
Friday 11 December
7:05am - 8am 5k Run
Dust off the cobwebs with a gentle 5k run (if such a thing exists!) through the heart of Belfast. Starting at the Riverside Entrance of ICC Belfast, you’ll head towards the Titanic Quarter before returning alongside the River Lagan. Organised and led by Richard Morris (Active Media Events).
9am - 9.40am ABPCO Member Group Networking Sessions
More details to follow
9am - 9.40am ICC Belfast Venue Tour
An opportunity for a guided tour of this year's ABPCO Awards venue with a member of the ICC Belfast team.
10am - 10.40am and 10.45am - 11.25am
Delivering high-quality events: what keeps me awake at night!
Even the most experienced event professionals have those moments when they lie awake wondering: What if it goes wrong? Have we missed something? How do we make this better? This interactive session creates a space for event professionals to share the challenges, risks and frustrations that come with delivering high-quality events, from the everyday pressures to the issues that can keep you awake at night. Bringing together in-house event professionals, agencies, venues, destinations and suppliers, we’ll put real-world challenges on the table and work together to find solutions, share experiences and learn from each other.
AI and Events: cutting through the hype and finding the opportunity
AI is changing the way we work but what are event professionals actually using it for, and where can it genuinely make a difference? This interactive session will cut through the hype and explore the practical reality of using AI in event management. We’ll share examples of how event professionals are already using AI, explore where the biggest opportunities lie, and consider the risks, from accuracy and data protection to ethics, trust and over-reliance on technology. Most importantly, you’ll hear from peers who are already experimenting with AI and leave with practical ideas, useful examples and clear next steps you can apply in your own work.
Beyond the contract: creating long-term event partnerships
Great partnerships don't happen by accident. They're built, tested, and earned over time. This panel brings together event organisers, agencies, venues, and suppliers to explore what makes long-term partnerships work, and what makes them fall apart. We’ll look at how to move beyond a traditional client-supplier dynamic to something genuinely strategic: building two-way value, balancing commercial realities with shared value and finding ways to deliver more for your event, organisation and partners. Expect candid conversation, real examples, and practical ideas you can take back to the partnerships that matter most to your association.
ICC Belfast Venue Tour
An opportunity for a guided tour of this year's ABPCO Awards venue with a member of the ICC Belfast team.
11.30am - Midday ABPCO Excellence Awards Drinks Reception (sponsored by Harrogate Convention Centre)
Midday - 3pm ABPCO 2026 Excellence Awards Lunch
* Programme and Timings subject to change however the event will close no later than 3pm *