Culture Burnley Awards 2026

The Culture Burnley Awards are coming back on 16th April 2026!

Nominations for the 2026 Awards are now OPEN!

Award Categories

Rising Star Award

For outstanding young people aged 13–25 who demonstrate exceptional talent, creativity, and potential in the cultural and creative sector. This award celebrates those tipped to be the cultural stars of the future, across any discipline.

Nurturing Creativity Award

For those who work behind the scenes to nurture and inspire others in the creative and cultural sector. Whether through teaching, mentoring or support – paid or voluntary – they help others to grow, build skills, and find confidence in their own creativity

Cultural Partnership Award

This award recognises collaborations that connect culture with other sectors – including education, health, business and leisure – to deliver innovative and impactful cultural projects and initiatives.

Culture for All Award

For individuals, groups or organisations who use culture and creativity to bring people together, overcome barriers, and strengthen communities. Their work ensures that everyone can access, participate in, and benefit from cultural activities.

Outstanding Cultural Event Award

For a cultural festival, performance, or event in any discipline, held between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2025, that has demonstrated creativity, excellence, and meaningful impact, whether large or small.

Creative Excellence Award

For cultural and creative individuals in any field who are producing outstanding, original work and/or supporting and inspiring the development of culture in Burnley. Their creativity, skill, and influence make a meaningful contribution to the local cultural scene.

Outstanding Cultural Organisation Award

For organisations of any size delivering inspirational and innovative cultural and creative activity. This includes museums, galleries, dance and music schools, heritage organisations, educational establishments and others, presenting cultural programmes that enrich our communities.

Volunteer Excellence Award

Recognising individuals or groups of volunteers of all ages who give their time, energy, and skills to support or deliver cultural, heritage and creative experiences across any discipline. Their dedication and commitment helps to make culture accessible, vibrant, and thrive in our borough.

#OutdoorTown Award

For individuals, groups, or organisations delivering cultural and creative activities in outdoor spaces across Burnley and Padiham. This award celebrates work that brings culture into the open, engages communities, and enhances public spaces through creativity.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognising an individual who has made a sustained and outstanding contribution to the cultural, heritage and creative sector over many years. Their dedication, influence, and passion have left a lasting impact on the local cultural landscape and inspired generations of audiences and creatives.

Nominee criteria

Nominations open 1 November 2025 and close on 14 December 2025

Nominees must be based in the borough of Burnley or have delivered work in the borough that has made a significant impact. Nominations must relate to activity which has taken place between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2025. People and organisations nominated must have been active in the category nominated in Burnley, during this same period. For these awards, nominees must be involved in one or more of the following areas:

heritage
visual art (all forms – painting, drawing / illustration, sculpture, textile art, glasswork and more)
music and singing
theatre
performance
dance

film and broadcast media
literature (including poetry, spoken word etc.)
digital art
photography
craft and creativity
cultural education
production, direction, other “behind the scenes” roles.

Want to Nominate Someone?

Award Category

Nominee's Contact Number

Nominee's Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal Code

Photographs

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

You can upload up to 3 files.

Minimum of 1 and maximum of 3 photographs which support the nomination, maximum file size per image 2MB. If the nominee is shortlisted, images may be used in event publicity so should have no restrictions to prevent this use.

Nominator's Name

Nominator's Email

Relationship to the nominee (where an individual is being nominated)

Nominee's Name / Organisation

Nominee's Email

Reason for nomination (up to 500 words)

This should be a strong argument for why the nominee deserves to win. Please use bullet points and cover the following areas:
– What the person/group/organisation does.
– What their most significant achievements or contributions have been in the timeframe.
– What impact they have had and why they deserve to win.
– Any challenges that they have overcome.
– If your nomination is for the event award category, please include the date(s) that the event took place and what made the event outstanding, how many people were involved, what was its impact and its legacy?

Paragraph Text

Web address or social media links to any supporting online supporting evidence.

Tips for nominating

We want to help you to make your nomination as good as possible, so here are some tips.

The awards are about celebrating the best in Burnley’s Culture, make sure that any nominations relate directly to activity taking place within the borough of Burnley – so including Padiham and the villages that make up the borough.
Read through the criteria and make sure that you select the most appropriate category. You can nominate in more than one category, but answers must be tailored to the category and not just copied and pasted from one nomination form to another.
Make sure that you give yourself the time needed to write a good argument for why your nominee deserves to win. Be specific, we want to understand what sets your nominee apart from others. We expect to get a lot of entries, so if a strong and clear case isn’t presented, any additional evidence may not be reviewed by the panel.

Choose any supporting evidence carefully. Should the nominee be shortlisted, the images supplied will be used in print and digital media for the ceremony, make sure there are no restrictions that would prevent this.
Double check any contact details are correct and that you’ve included everything you need to before you submit.

FAQ’s

Who can submit a nomination?

Nominations can be submitted by individuals or representatives of groups or organisations. We will not accept self-nominations from individuals.

Do I need to pay to submit an entry to the awards?

No, there is no cost to submit a nomination.

Who can I nominate?

Eligible nominees must either be based or delivering work in Burnley. Burnley refers to the borough, so can include Padiham and the villages within the Burnley boundary.

Nominations must relate to activity which has taken place between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2025. People and organisations nominated must have been active in the category nominated in Burnley, during this same period. We’re sorry but anything relating to before 1 April 2024 is not eligible. Anything after this period can be submitted for the next award ceremony in 2028.

Can I nominate the organisation or group that I am part of for an award?

Yes, as an employee or volunteer you can put forward a cultural organisation or group that you are connected with.

Can I nominate myself for an individual award?

No. For any of the categories where an individual person is being nominated for their personal achievements, nominations should be sent in by a third party. You can still talk to them about the nomination and get any supporting evidence that you need.

What is included in the definition of culture?

Events, people or organisations from the following fields are eligible: heritage, visual art (including painting, drawing or illustration, sculpture, glasswork, textile art, mixed media), textile design, fashion, music and singing, theatre, performance, dance, film and broadcast media, literature (including poetry, spoken word), digital art, photography, craft and creativity, cultural education, production, direction, other “behind the scenes” roles.

Can I nominate more than once?

You can enter nominations into as many different categories as you like.

However, if you are entering the same nominee into more than one category, do consider if each category is relevant and tailor your nomination information to each specific category.

If you are submitting more than one nominee into the same category, ensure that you do not duplicate information for the nominees.

How will the information I submit be used?

The information submitted in the nomination form will be viewed by the judging panel. For those that progress to the awards ceremony, extracts of the information provided and any images supplied, will be used in the event programme and to introduce the finalist.

When can I submit nominations?

Nominations will be open between 1 November and 14 December 2025. Late nominations cannot be accepted.

What happens if I’m shortlisted?

Notifications will be sent out to shortlisted candidates in the New Year. This will be followed up with additional information regarding the awards ceremony.

If I’m shortlisted and can’t attend the event, can I send someone else in my place.

We know that it might not always be possible through illness or other commitments for shortlisted candidates to attend. You can send someone else to represent you, but do make it clear to the event team. If you cannot attend and do not wish to send a representative, we will make arrangements with you to collect any awards or certification at another time.

I would like to sponsor the event in some way, who can I speak to?

If you would be interested in sponsoring a particular award category, the entertainment or hospitality for the event, please contact Head of Culture Charlotte Steels to discuss available options: csteels@blcgroup.co.uk

If I have any further questions, who do I contact?

Contact Head of Culture Charlotte Steels csteels@blcgroup.co.uk

The 2024 Awards

The inaugural Culture Burnley Awards took place on 5th September 2024. The aim of the Awards was to celebrate Burnley’s cultural organisations and individuals, providing them with a high-profile platform and showcase.