Rise Awards Returns for 2026

Rise WIB, the advocacy group championing gender diversity and career progression across the broadcast and media technology sectors, has announced that entries for the Rise Awards 2026 are officially open. Scheduled to take place at Troxy, London, on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, the annual event recognizes the women, advocates, and organizations making a significant impact on the industry. Organized in partnership with Gravity Media and supported by CueScript and DCE Agency, the awards honor achievements across a broad range of operational and technical disciplines.

Submissions and nominations are encouraged from across the global broadcast and media technology audience to showcase talent, whether in a manufacturer, service provider, engineering or broadcaster role. Nominations are open now through 17.00 GMT, 5th August 2026. The shortlist will be announced at the IBC2026 show. 
 
Entrants can be nominated, or they can nominate themselves. All applications will require statements on the nominee and why they are relevant for the award. The judges, across the categories, are looking for the best demonstration of exceptional achievement, innovation, positive impact, and the ability to fulfil the criteria. 
 
Rise is seeking nominations across the following categories: 
Advocate Award - Sponsored by Techex
This Award is given to a male working across the media technology sector who has driven both internal and external initiatives to support gender diversity. Over the last year they will have worked to support or develop new programmes of work that encourage, promote and champion gender diversity within their own companies or wider industry community. They will have also used their voice to drive conversations and ensure that the lack of gender diversity remains a priority for their colleagues and the industry.
 
Business Leader Award - Sponsorship available
This award will recognise the achievements of a woman running a business within the broadcast industry (either manufacturer or service provider), for example, a CEO, Managing Director, COO, or business owner.

Business Operations Award - Sponsored by Encompass
This award will go to an individual who takes the resources available to them and turns them into the finest content that we see on screens today. These resources include finance, workforces, legal etc and the person in the business operations role will ensure that they are delivered to the right place at the right time with the highest levels of quality. This person can work in a broadcaster, manufacturer, post production house or service delivery company and will excel at making sure the workforce and clients are happy and the business is reaching its targets.
 
Company Award for Investment in Women - Sponsored by Ross Video
The winning organisation will have made a significant time or financial investment in recruiting and retaining its female workforce. They will be ensuring equal pay,  giving their female talent a voice, providing flexible working practices and have a no-tolerance attitude to sexism in the workplace. This company will celebrate the success of its female team and be able to demonstrate the steps they have taken to do all of this.
 
Influencer Award - Sponsorship available
This award will go to an individual that creates influence, communities, has a voice in the industry and brings people together. They can work in sales, marketing, journalism, business or any other role and will be recognised by their peers and community as an influencer.
 
Marketing Award - Sponsorship available
This award will commend an outstanding woman who is working in a marketing or PR role in the industry; either in-house or for an agency or as a freelancer.
 
Product Innovation Award - Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery
This award recognises the importance of revolution and invention for the broadcasting sector today and for the future. Fulfilling either a product development and/or product management role, this nominee will have led or contributed significantly to a product where the outcome was both engaging and empowering, as well as making a difference by creating tangible benefits to the industry.
 
Production Support Engineer Award - Sponsored by Appear
An organised and skilled Production Support Engineer, who represents the very best of our Broadcasting Profession. She has a strong understanding of the broadcast chain, offers outstanding troubleshooting skills, implicitly relates to relevant standards and demonstrates the ability to fault find from first principles.
 
Project Management or Delivery Award (End User) - Sponsored by bfbs
Celebrating women who have driven collaboration between vendors and end users, delivering tangible solutions with measurable outcomes for all.  Our shortlisted nominees have exceptional organisational and leadership skills, as well outstanding abilities in managing multiple stakeholders and multiple tasks.

Project Management or Delivery Award (Vendor/Service Provider) - Sponsorship available
This award recognises women who have exceeded in delivering transformational projects, on-time and within budget. Our shortlisted nominees have managed scope, risk and commercial pressures without compromise on quality and shown exceptional partnership throughout the project.
 
R&D Engineer Award - Sponsorship available
This award recognises a high achiever, problem solver and team player who represents the very best of the broadcasting profession.
 
Rising Star Award - Sponsored by DXC Technology
The Rising Star award will recognise women who are industry newcomers, with four years or less industry experience, but who are considered as stand-out performers, innovators and emerging leaders in the broadcast & media industry.
 
Sales Award - Sponsorship available
This award is open to any woman in a sales role in the broadcast industry working either in a manufacturer, service provider, broadcaster, media publisher or trade show.
 
Student/Apprentice Award - Sponsored by SMPTE
Our student/apprentice of the year will be a stellar representative of their educational institution or workplace. They can either be a student in a higher educational establishment studying a course relevant to the broadcast technology sector, or an apprentice working in the sector, ideally with an educational element of their apprenticeship. She will have shown determination to succeed and have demonstrated a desire to learn, improve and exceed their potential. The judges will be looking for statements from their educational lead, fellow students and/or line manager and will be evaluated on their outstanding course achievements, positive impact on their workplace, and commitment to personal and professional growth.
 
Technical Operations Award - Sponsored by Vizrt
This award celebrates a technical operations team member who has gone above and beyond the requirements of their day-to-day role to make a difference, whether it’s delivering outstanding client service on a particular project or service line, resolving a difficult problem or supporting a colleague or client to help achieve this. Technical Operations encompasses all levels from junior operators through to technical supervisors and managers working across all broadcast services.
 
Woman of the Year Award - Sponsorship available
This special award will be chosen by the Rise Advisory Board and is open to any woman from across the sector and at any level. The Award is for an extraordinary and inspirational woman who has made a significant contribution within her field and to the industry at large.
 
New for 2026, most award categories will carry an entry fee of £50 + VAT per category submission for non-Rise sponsors. The Woman of the Year Award and Student/Apprentice Award will remain free to enter.
 
Sadie Groom, Founder and CEO of Rise, said: “The Rise Awards celebrate the women who are shaping the future of our industry. Every year we see remarkable examples of innovation, leadership and determination from individuals and organisations working across broadcast and media technology.
Recognition matters. By shining a spotlight on outstanding achievements, we not only celebrate success, but also create visible role models who can inspire others to pursue and progress in careers across our sector.
We look forward to discovering this year’s nominees and celebrating the talent, expertise and passion that continues to drive our industry forward.”
 
Tickets for the event will go on sale in September 2026. 
 
For more information about how to submit a standout Rise Awards nomination, see HERE.
 
To submit nominee applications, please visit: risewib.com/rise-wib-awards