Rising stars, attractions and accommodation providers are among those to have been honoured for excellence at the prestigious 2026 East Midlands Tourism Awards.
Hundreds of guests, including industry leaders and innovators gathered at Derby County Football Club’s Pride Park Stadium last night (Wednesday 18 March) for an evening of celebration during English Tourism Week, which runs from 13-22 March.
The awards brought together businesses, attractions, accommodation providers and hospitality leaders from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the wider region to celebrate excellence in tourism.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:
“The East Midlands Tourism Awards showcase the places and experiences that make our region so special.
“I’m proud to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists who are helping to make the East Midlands a destination of choice. Their hard work, creativity and passion not only attract visitors from far and wide, but also support local jobs, businesses and communities.
“Together we are building a stronger visitor economy and making the East Midlands an even better place to live, work and visit.”
Tourism plays a vital role in the East Midlands economy, contributing £5.25 billion in 2024-5 and supporting thousands of jobs across the region.
The annual tourism awards recognise the outstanding achievements of businesses helping to grow the visitor economy and showcase everything the East Midlands has to offer, attracting visitors from across the UK and around the world and helping drive economic growth, investment and opportunities for local communities.
By celebrating the best in the industry, the awards continue to shine a spotlight on the innovation, quality and dedication that drive the region’s tourism success and support its continued growth.
The awards were organised through collaboration between regional tourism partners including Visit Nottinghamshire and Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby, with support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, Visit Nottinghamshire chief executive officer, said:
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate the winners of the Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards and to recognise the exceptional quality, innovation and dedication shown by businesses across our visitor economy.
These awards are a powerful reminder of the vital role tourism plays in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – supporting jobs, driving investment and creating experiences that attract millions of visitors each year, support 22,500 jobs and generate £2.53 billion in economic impact.
It was fantastic to come together with our partners at Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby to showcase our exceptional visitor economy sector across the East Midlands. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and we keep our fingers crossed for our Gold award recipients being picked to represent the region on the national stage at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.”
Jo Dilley, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire managing director, said:
“The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards provide an inspiring moment to come together and celebrate the passion, innovation and dedication that drive our visitor economy forward. This event is more than an awards ceremony – it’s a showcase of the remarkable businesses, individuals and experiences that contribute £3.58bn in economic value to the local economy.
“By uniting finalists, partners and champions of tourism in the East Midlands under one roof, we’re able to highlight the strength of collaboration in delivering exceptional experiences, boosting local pride and contributing significantly to our economic growth. Congratulations to our worthy winners!”
The awards recognise a range of tourism businesses, from accommodation providers and visitor attractions to restaurants, experiences and hospitality venues. Finalists progressed through a rigorous judging process to determine this year’s winners.
The gold winners from key categories will now go on to represent the East Midlands at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The winners:
Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards: The 2026 Winners
Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards winners – Visit Nottinghamshire: The 2026 winners
Published on: 19 March 2026
Categories: News, Economic Development, Visitor Economy