Nominations now open for BBC Food and Farming Awards - being held for the first time held in Northern Ireland
Nominations are now open for the BBC Food and Farming Awards, which for the first time will be held in Northern Ireland with Head Judge, Paula McIntryre.
The awards officially launched on Radio 4's The Food Programme on May 22 and to mark them coming to Northern Ireland, the BBC Radio Ulster Food Hero Award is being introduced as a new category this year.
Your Place And Mine and Your Farm And Mine will be the official home of this award and presenter Eve Blair will join the judging panel to sample the delights on offer in this category.
Coming from a farming background, Eve knows what it takes to bring premium products from the farm to the shelves of our shops and will be asking listeners to champion the best of local produce from across Northern Ireland.
Eve says: "I am delighted to have been asked to join the judging panel this year. The awards are all about celebrating the UK's best cooks and producers and Your Place And Mine and Your Farm And Mine will be the home for the BBC Radio Ulster Food Hero Award
"This is a new award for 2026 and champions the best of what we have here in Northern Ireland.
"So if you know anyone who is doing something really special in the food world, get nominating. We want to hear about them!"
This award will celebrate local individual producers and social enterprises who are providing high quality, home grown, seasonal food that reflects Northern Ireland's unique flavours and cuisine.
Whether it’s farmers in Co Fermanagh, artisans in Co Armagh or the finest dairy in Co Down, individual producers or social enterprises across any of the six counties of Northern Ireland can all enter.
Local chef and broadcaster, Paula McIntyre will be the Head Judge for this year's awards which celebrate the UK’s best cooks and producers.
Paula McIntyre says: "Having previously served on the Food and Farming Awards judging panel, I am thrilled to see the awards coming to Northern Ireland for the first time and to be Head Judge this year.
“With over 30 years' experience as a chef, and someone who has championed local culinary traditions and ingredients, I can't wait to discover even more wonderful produce from across the UK."
The categories for 2026 are:
- Best Food Producer Awards
- Best Drinks Producer Award
- The Digital Creator Awards
- The Farming for the Future Awards with The Archers and Farming Today
- The Food Innovation Awards
- Countryfile Young Countryside Champion
- The BBC Radio Ulster Food Hero Award
- Derek Cooper Outstanding Achievement Award
Nominations are now open and the closing date is Monday 15 June 2026 at 12pm.
Full details on how to enter are available at BBC Food and Farming Awards page where you can also find the full terms and privacy notice.
The BBC Food and Farming Awards were launched in 2000 to mark the 20th anniversary of BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme. The mission remains unchanged: “to honour those who have done most to promote the cause of good food.”
BBC audiences nominate individuals and businesses doing inspiring work in the food world. Finalists are rigorously judged by leading food experts. Since 2000, the awards have celebrated over 450 finalists from more than 75,000 nominations across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Along with BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme, the awards bring together a range of BBC output to celebrate food, drink and producers; including Radio 4's Farming Today, Countryfile, and The Archers, who this year celebrate 75 years on air. Highlights from the ceremony will broadcast on BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme this autumn.
The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026 will be held in Titanic Belfast in October 2026 and this year's event is supported by Food NI with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Details on the judging panel will be announced in due course.