EY opens nominations for 2026 Entrepreneur Of The Year programme
Search begins for Ireland’s most ambitious business leaders as nominations close on 17 February
13 January 2026 | 📧 editor@breakingground.news
EY has opened nominations for its 2026 Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) programme, inviting entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland to put themselves forward or be nominated by others, with nominations closing on 17 February 2026.
Now in its 29th year, the EOY programme is open to entrepreneurs from all sectors and stages of growth, spanning emerging, established and international businesses. Nominees must be Irish or running a company based on the island of Ireland and meet the programme’s ownership and management criteria.
EY said the programme continues to play a significant role in Ireland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The EOY alumni network now comprises more than 680 entrepreneurs whose businesses collectively employ over 275,000 people and generate more than €28 billion in annual revenues.
Twenty-four finalists will be selected for the 2026 programme, with eight finalists chosen in each of the three main categories. Finalists will take part in a nine-month strategic growth programme, which includes executive education, peer networking, tailored media profiling and the annual CEO Retreat, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada. Participants will also gain access to the wider EOY alumni network.
Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland, said entrepreneurs remain a central driver of Ireland’s economy, particularly in a period of global change and uncertainty. He noted that the programme aims to recognise and support business leaders who are translating ambition and innovation into long-term economic and societal impact.
The 2026 programme theme, ‘The Entrepreneurs”’ focuses on business leaders whose ideas, resilience and originality are shaping Ireland’s future across industries and regions. In addition to the three main categories, a Sustainability Award will recognise a finalist making a significant contribution to environmental sustainability through their business activities.
Finalists will be selected by an independent judging panel chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest, and comprising former EOY winners. Overall category winners will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in late November 2026, with the overall winner going on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in Monaco in June 2027.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, Government sponsor Enterprise Ireland, and long-standing supporter Invest Northern Ireland.
Further information and nomination details are available at www.eoy.ie
