The shortlist for the 2026 Irish Journalism Awards, in association with NewsBrands Ireland and supported by Google News Initiative, has been announced.
The 23 categories showcase the breadth and depth of Irish journalism, from reporting and writing to investigation, commentary and digital storytelling.
Entry to the Irish Journalism Awards is open to work published in print, online, video or audio by a national news title that is a member of the Press Council of Ireland and has a focus on national or international news.
The full Shortlist can be viewed here:
https://www.irishjournalismawards.ie/
Titles across the spectrum of quality Irish journalism are represented on the shortlist, including The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Sunday World, Crime World, The Herald, Irish Daily Mail, The Irish Mail on Sunday, Evoke,, The Sunday Times, The Irish Sun, Irish Daily Star, Irish Mirror, Irish Farmers Journal, Irish Country Living, Business Post, The Currency, The Journal and The42.ie.
A panel of independent journalism experts, chaired by Claire Grady, assessed the entries according to criteria including subject matter, rigour of reporting, writing style, originality, and impact. View the full judging panel here: https://www.irishjournalismawards.ie/judges-2026
Alongside headline sponsor Google News Initiative, the awards are supported by:
- The Creative and Communications Association, sponsor of the Business Journalism category
- Flutter UK & Ireland best known as owners of Paddy Power, sponsor of the Broadsheet Sports Journalism category
- Edelman Ireland is an Awards Patron
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 12th in The Round Room at Dublin’s Mansion House.
Speaking about the shortlist, Ann Marie Lenihan, CEO of NewsBrands Ireland, said:
“The breadth and quality of work on this year’s shortlist is a powerful reminder of what goes into producing original journalism of this depth. Behind every investigation, interview and carefully reported story is significant time, expertise and investment.
At a time when AI can take and reproduce original journalism without recognition or payment, we must recognise the journalists whose time, expertise and investment go into creating the original work that informs the public and holds power to account.
The shortlisted entries represent some of the very best journalism being produced in Ireland today, and we look forward to celebrating the journalists and teams behind this outstanding work at the awards in November.”
Commenting on behalf of awards partner Google News Initiative, Hayley Cochrane, Director of News Partnerships UK/ Northern Europe, said:
“The Google News Initiative is incredibly proud to renew our partnership with the Irish Journalism Awards and celebrate the extraordinary talent shaping the Irish media landscape. In an era of rapid change, the dedication, integrity, and depth of Irish journalism remain absolutely vital to society. We are deeply committed to supporting a sustainable, innovative news ecosystem in Ireland, and I look forward to honoring the exceptional storytelling and rigorous reporting reflected in this year’s entries.”
