Call for Wirral entries to the 2026 Culture and Creativity Awards
The Culture and Creativity Awards are returning in 2026 to celebrate creativity from across the Liverpool City Region.
Wirral winners at last year’s event included MAKE CIC, Convenience Gallery CIC, Focal Studios, Future Yard CIC, artist Tess Gilmartin and Creative Consultant Karen Gallagher MBE, and nominations are now open for 2026.
With four brand-new categories, the awards offer an opportunity to shine a spotlight on even more of the incredible talent shaping our cultural landscape. The new categories are:
- Live Event of the Year – honouring unforgettable moments that brought people together.
- Excellence in Film & TV – celebrating screen magic made right here in the region.
- Creative/Media Individual of the Year – recognising trailblazing talent.
- Creative/Media Organisation of the Year – spotlighting standout success stories.
They join the coveted People’s Choice Award which is voted for by the public and 12 other categories which recognise the use of culture and creativity in areas such as innovation, community cohesion and education.
Whether it’s a grassroots community project, a blockbuster production, or a game-changing innovation – one great nomination is all it takes finalists are chosen on quality, not the number of nominations. The awards ceremony will be held in Liverpool next June.
Nominations are not just restricted to work done by professionals but can include creative activity that brings people together from virtual projects to real-world impact, so this can involve volunteers and community activity too.
Councillor Ian Lewis, Chair of Wirral Council’s Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure committee, said:
Wirral is home to a huge amount of creative talent, businesses and community organisations, and this is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate those people and companies that enrich the cultural offer across the borough all year round.
This awards ceremony is such a great showcase for the culture we have on offer here, and I’d encourage people to share their Wirral nominations.
Councillor Mike Wharton, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade, said:
The introduction of four new categories for 2026 reflects the incredible breadth of creativity across the Liverpool City Region. We are a cultural and creative powerhouse. If you know someone making waves in the arts, media, or creative industries, now’s the time to shout about it!
These awards are about celebrating the people and projects that make our region so vibrant — from grassroots initiatives to global productions. One great nomination is all it takes.
ew judge Rachel McLean, Chair of the Combined Authority’s Creative Industries Cluster Board and Director of the School of Art and Creative Industries at Liverpool John Moores University, joins the panel in 2026. She said:
Creativity connects us, inspires us, and drives innovation. I’m thrilled to join the judging panel for 2026 and I’m looking forward to seeing what exciting work has been happening across the city region this year.
These awards are a powerful way to recognise the impact of creativity in every corner of our communities, and I would encourage everyone to enter.
Launched in 2019 as part of the Metro Mayor’s Percent for Culture initiative, the awards honour the individuals and organisations whose creativity enriches lives and powers the region’s cultural economy.
Nominations can be made online and the closing date for entries is 5pm on Monday 10 November 2025.
An independent judging panel will consider all the nominations and choose category winners, while the public will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award.
The 2026 event is sponsored by Hope Street Hotel, ACC Liverpool and Trojan Lighting Solutions.
To find out more and to nominate, visit: LCR Culture Creativity Awards | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
