2026 East Grampians Business Awards
The East Grampians Business Awards are an opportunity for businesses to reflect on their current practices and receive recognition for a job well done. In addition, the Awards aim to inspire our community to become more involved in supporting local business and bring greater awareness to the connections between businesses, local employment, and the overall prosperity of our community.
Applications are open to all businesses, small or large, rural or CBD based, operating within the Ararat municipality. All categories will be judged by an independent judging panel. Businesses are welcome to enter into more than one category. Each category entered will require it's own separate entry.
Council has refreshed the awards categories for 2026 to better reflect the breadth of local businesses and the different ways they are adapting, investing, and embracing new opportunities. The categories include:
- Future-Ready Business Award
- Experience Creator Award (for both commercial and not-for-profit enterprises)
- Bold Move Award
- Made Here Award
- Outstand Customer Service Award
- We are also continuing Business of the Year and People’s Choice awards
Benefits to applicants include:
- The opportunity to perform a ‘business health check’ by undertaking the application process and assessing strengths and weaknesses, prior to receiving feedback from judges.
- The opportunity to make connections with key business people in our region.
- Increased recognition of a business and its brand.
- The potential to be acknowledged as a finalist or category winner.
Finalists in the 2026 Awards will receive:
- Extensive promotion as a finalist through various media such as TV, online, print, radio and social media.
- Business profile in the Awards Gala Dinner presentation.
- Acknowledgement as a finalist at the 2026 Gala Celebration.
Category winners in the 2026 Awards will receive:
- Extensive promotion as a category winner through various media such as TV, online, print, radio and social media avenues.
- Business profile in the follow up press feature.
- Acknowledgement as a category winner at the 2026 Gala Celebration.
- Category winner framed certificate and trophy to display in place of business.
- Category winner digital material to use in own marketing.
- The winners will be announced at a prestigious Business Awards Gala presentation evening. Invitations to the dinner will be sent to all entrants, sponsors, and businesses across our region.
Please contact Phillippa Cairns at [email protected] or (03) 5355 0241 for any questions or concerns.
Applications for the 2026 East Grampians Business Awards will close at 5pm Saturday 28 August 2026.
Recognises local businesses of all sizes adapting to future challenges and opportunities. These include:
- AI adoption
- Sustainability
- Workforce Innovation
- New Technology
- Diversification
Has your business branched out into an eCommerce model to provide an additional revenue stream away from bricks and mortar? Completed a digital transformation? Changed ownership for a new start? Created a new brand in yhour business? Done a collaboration that is changing the game? This is the award for you.
This award celebrates the experiences in Ararat Rural City that is ‘worth the drive’ and is focused on the volunteer-led community groups and NFP’s that create memorable tourism and customer experiences. The category can include experiences that cover:
- Retail experiences
- Tourism
- Health and Wellness
- Workshops
- Events
- Interactive customer service
This award is for the volunteer-led or community-based tourism experiences.
This award celebrates the experiences in Ararat Rural City that is ‘worth the drive’ and is focused on the commercial businesses that create memorable tourism and customer experiences. The category can include experiences that cover:
- Retail experiences
- Tourism
- Health and Wellness
- Workshops
- Events
- Interactive customer service
Contenders would include cellar doors and retail experiences that lure people in, Food and Beverage providers who are creating great experiences, and one-off special events that get people in the car and out experiencing the best of our region.
This award category celebrates businesses that took a risk and has created a fantastic story to tell. Examples can include:
• Expansion
• New product launch
• Rebrand
• Relocation
• Major investment
• Diversification
From new restaurants to operations moving online, a new brand or big build, creating art and beyond, this is for the bold movers who are taking a punt.
Celebrating things that are created, grown, designed or produced locally. This category is a strong reflection of our local regional identity and the products that are unique to the Ararat Rural City region. These can include:
• Manufacturing
• Food production
• Agriculture
• Artisans
• Creative Industries
• Makers
This award covers everyone from big local 'widget' manufacturers to local unique makers, wineries and winemakers, agribusiness, delicious food, art and more.
You've seen this category before and it's popular for a reason! A classic award that caters directly for our most visible businesses – retail, cafes, restaurants, health services, professional services and tourism. We reward excellence and those businesses that love their customers and clients, and it shows.
A classic for a reason! The People’s Choice Award is decided by online public voting, allowing residents to choose their favorite local business operating in the Ararat municipality. Any business, big or small, rural or CBD-based, that operates within Ararat Rural City can be nominated.
This year each business in every category can elect to participate in the Business of the Year Award. This category will be selected by an independent panel of judges from previous winners to category sponsors and the Mayor of Ararat Rural City.
How to enter
The 2026 East Grampians Business Awards are now open and accepting submissions from businesses operating in the greater Ararat Rural City Area. We have kept the application process as simple and easy as possible. Good luck!