MCA opens entries for 2026 awards timeline
The ceremony of the MCA Awards is the culmination of more than a year of planning and consideration. Because of this, before the showpiece 2025 event has even happened, the organisers have announced nominations for the next edition are now open.
Hosted by the UK consulting industry’s representative body, the Management Consultancies Association’s MCA Awards are the most prestigious event in the sector’s yearly calendar. Highlighting the work done by consultants in partnership with clients as well as the talent across the sector, each year, the awards continue to grow.
Over 50 leading consulting firms of all sizes have secured places as finalists for the 2025 MCA Awards. The winners will be announced on November 10th, at a black-tie event in London’s Grosvenor Hotel. But before all of that, the MCA has commenced plans for its 2026 outing.
The 2026 Awards will feature 24 categories, including 9 individual awards and 12 project awards, alongside accolades for ‘Best New Consultancy’, ‘Consultant of the Year’, and ‘Project of the Year’. Entries are now open to small, medium, and large firms, across the UK; and while MCA member firms are encouraged to enter all categories, the ‘Best New Consultancy’ award is open to any firm in the industry who can demonstrate exceptional client focus, delivery excellence, and a strong commitment to their people.
A launch event hosted by the MCA has introduced all project and individual award categories, as well as the respected judging panel, drawing wide interest from across the consulting sector. Among the judges for 2026 are Paul Terrington, former PwC board member, and Maryam Moshiri, chief news presenter at the BBC.
Awards timeline
The MCA has also announced its official timeline running to the 2026 awards night. With the purchase entries period now open, contenders will have until March 13th 2026 to provide their written submissions. Finalists for the awards will be announced on May 18th, before the independent judges begin the hardest part of their work.
Each submission is assessed by a panel of over 50 judges drawn from academia, government, media, and the private sector. Judges follow a strict code of conduct and a structured marking and interview process, while the MCA does not participate in selecting winners, focusing solely on setting categories, defining judging criteria, and recruiting the panel. Interviews with shortlisted consultants, firms, and their clients will take place in June and July.
A special finalists reception will be hosted on September 10th, to celebrate the entrants ahead of the final ceremony. That will take place on October 12th, once again at a ceremony hosted amid the glitz and glamour of London’s Grosvenor Hotel.
Tamzen Isacsson, chief executive of the MCA, commented, “The MCA Awards are a sector-wide celebration of the value consulting brings to clients in the UK and globally. Firms planning to enter should carefully review the entry terms and conditions and prepare submissions with clients well in advance, as the process is highly competitive. We look forward to receiving entries from individuals at all levels in the consulting industry.”
