Operational Excellence Awards 2026 Shortlist Revealed
By Jed Nykolle Harme
April 01, 2026
Ireland's operational excellence community prepares to celebrate as the finalists for the Operational Excellence Awards 2026 are unveiled, recognising outstanding achievement across operational performance, continuous improvement, and business transformation.
The shortlist spans across 22 categories, reflecting the depth and ambition driving Ireland's operational sectors forward. From lean transformation initiatives to cross-functional team excellence, this year's finalists demonstrate how Irish organisations continue to raise the bar in efficiency, innovation, and sustainable performance improvement.
Among the recognised categories are Operations Team of the Year – Large and Operations Team of the Year – SME, highlighting the scale and diversity of excellence being delivered across Irish organisations. These categories underscore the commitment of both large enterprises and smaller businesses to building high-performing teams capable of driving meaningful, measurable change.
Individual recognition takes centre stage with the Operational Excellence Leader award, celebrating a person who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, cultural transformation, and operational discipline — with the recipient to be announced exclusively on the night. The evening's highest honour, the Overall Operational Excellence Award, will also be presented to the organisation that best exemplifies the pursuit of enterprise excellence across all dimensions.
Finalists now await the verdict of an independent judging panel comprising Irish and international operational leaders, who evaluate entries against rigorous criteria measuring innovation, efficiency, and sustainable performance improvement.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on 27 May 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, where Ireland's operational excellence community will gather to celebrate achievement across the sectors.
Visit the official Operational Excellence Awards website to view the complete shortlist by category and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and exclusive insights ahead of the ceremony.
