CIPD Opens People Management Awards 2026 Across 21 Categories

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has opened entries for the People Management Awards 2026, inviting HR, learning and development, and organisational development professionals from around the world to submit their work for recognition across 21 categories.

The awards are aligned to the CIPD Profession Map — the internationally recognised benchmark for the people profession — ensuring that each category reflects areas of genuine strategic and operational significance. Categories span wellbeing, reward, people analytics, change management, equality, diversity and inclusion, and many others.

The awards are open to organisations of all sizes and sectors, and to both CIPD members and non-members, though CIPD members receive a discounted entry fee. Student and apprentice entries are available at a reduced rate of £50 plus VAT. Shortlisted organisations will participate in a live panel judging stage, and finalists are invited to a black-tie awards evening on 24 September 2026.

The early entry deadline is 26 March 2026, with entries before this date saving £100 per submission. The CIPD frames the awards not simply as a recognition exercise but as a professional development opportunity — an occasion for teams to reflect on their achievements, raise their profile, and connect with peers across the wider people profession.

The CIPD also launched its HR30 initiative for 2026, recognising 30 of the most impactful senior HR professionals globally — with a submission deadline of 20 March 2026.