The Festival Supplier Awards will return to London on January 28, 2027, with a refreshed entry process designed to make the awards more accessible and give suppliers of every size the opportunity to showcase their best work.

Taking place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, the awards will once again bring the outdoor events industry together to recognise the companies, teams and individuals behind some of the sector’s most outstanding work.

For 2027, organiser Eventive Media has reviewed the award categories, entry forms and judging criteria, placing greater emphasis on the quality of the product or service provided and the impact it had. The changes are designed to ensure that entrants are judged on what makes their work exceptional, rather than the size, scale or profile of the projects they have delivered.

Now firmly established as a highlight of the industry calendar, the Festival Supplier Awards celebrate the breadth of expertise that goes into delivering outdoor events, from power, staging and structures to crewing, security, technology, accessibility and production.

Manchett Security will return as headline sponsor for the second consecutive year, continuing its support for an event that puts the achievements of the outdoor event supply chain firmly in the spotlight.

Event director, Michelle Tayton, comments: “The Festival Supplier Awards have always been about recognising the suppliers and people working behind the scenes to make incredible events possible. What continues to strike us every year is just how much innovation, expertise and commitment there is across our industry.

“We also want the awards to be genuinely representative of the supply chain. Excellence isn’t determined by the size of a company or the scale of a project. Some of the most impressive work we see comes from smaller suppliers, specialist teams and businesses finding clever new ways to solve problems for their clients.

“For 2027, we’ve looked carefully at our categories and entry criteria to make sure they reflect the industry as it is today and give businesses of all sizes the opportunity to demonstrate what makes them exceptional.

“We’re also delighted to welcome Manchett Security back as our headline sponsor for a second year. Their continued support is a great endorsement of what the awards stand for and the industry they celebrate.”

The 2027 awards will recognise excellence across 23 categories, spanning the full spectrum of festival and outdoor event delivery.
The evening will also see the presentation of the Judges’ Choice Award, recognising an entry that particularly stands out to the Festival Supplier Awards judging panel.

Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of experienced event professionals, with the emphasis firmly on the quality and impact of the work delivered. Entrants will be encouraged to demonstrate not simply what they did, but the difference they made – whether through exceptional service, innovation, problem solving, collaboration, accessibility, sustainability or the contribution of their team.

Tayton adds: “The companies supplying outdoor events rarely get the public recognition enjoyed by the events themselves, yet their expertise is fundamental to their success. The Festival Supplier Awards are their night.

“We want to see entries from the established names we all know, but equally from the smaller and emerging suppliers doing brilliant work. If you’ve delivered something you’re proud of during the past year, we want to hear about it.”

The Festival Supplier Awards 2027 will take place on January 28 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London.