Dublin City Council has officially announced the launch of the 2026 'IPB Pride of Place Awards'. Now in its 24th year, the initiative represents the largest community awards event on the island of Ireland.

This year's gala ceremony will be hosted by Dublin City Council at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The event is expected to attract more than 850 delegates travelling from across the country.

The annual competition is organised by the peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, which is celebrating its centenary year in 2026. The awards were established to promote and celebrate excellence in local development, recognising the efforts of volunteers and groups working to improve their neighbourhoods. The initiative was originally founded by Dr Brendan O'Regan, an Irish innovator who established Co-operation North in 1978 to foster cross-border economic, cultural, and social cooperation.

Speaking at the launch at the Convention Centre, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, said: "Dublin is honoured to host the IPB Pride of Place Awards in 2026, the largest celebration of community achievement anywhere on this island. These awards speak to something powerful. They speak to the neighbour who gives their time. The volunteer who keeps showing up. The community group that sees a need and answers it. The local leaders who, day after day, make their town, village, street or neighbourhood a better place to live. As Lord Mayor, my theme has been Celebrating Dublin. But this October, we will have the privilege of celebrating something even wider, the pride of communities from every part of Ireland, and the people whose service, spirit and generosity hold those communities together. We look forward to welcoming delegates from across the country to Dublin, to the Convention Centre, and to a city that understands the value of community, the power of place, and the importance of honouring those who build both." Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, Richard Shakespeare, added: "It is both a privilege and an honour to Host the IPB Pride of Place Gala Awards Dublin City for held in association with Co-Operation Ireland. As we celebrate the 24th year of these prestigious awards, we also mark the centenary year of IPB Insurance — a significant milestone in supporting and strengthening communities across Ireland. This is a celebration of the extraordinary people and groups whose dedication, vision and community spirit continue to make towns, villages and neighbourhoods better places to live, work and visit. The invaluable work carried out by volunteers and local organisations throughout the country plays a vital role in building strong, connected and vibrant communities, while also setting an inspiring example for future generations."

Ian Jeffers, Chief Executive Officer of Co-operation Ireland, stated: "Pride of Place continues to showcase the very best of community spirit across the island of Ireland. Year after year, we see inspiring examples of people coming together to improve their local areas, strengthen connections and create places where everyone feels they belong. We are delighted to launch the 2026 competition and especially pleased that the grand finale will take place at the Convention Centre, Dublin. It will be a fitting celebration of the extraordinary work being carried out by communities in every county across the island and an opportunity for us all to celebrate the centenary of IPB our long-term Pride of Place partner who share our mission of bringing people together so that peace can prosper."

Tom Dowling, Chairman of IPB Pride of Place, commented: "The purpose of these awards to meaningfully acknowledge and celebrate the work that our incredible communities all over the island of Ireland. Our Pride of Place nominees nominated by their local authority are consistently working to make their places wonderful caring places to live in. Our judges are looking forward to another year of inspirational judging experiences."

John Hogan, IPB Chair, said: "The IPB Pride of Place Awards are a powerful celebration of the people and communities who give so much, often without seeking recognition. As we mark IPB's centenary year, it is especially fitting that this year's Awards will be among the largest ever, hosted in the Convention Centre Dublin and featuring a special IPB centenary award. We are proud to support an initiative that reflects the very essence of mutuality, communities working together to make a meaningful difference. I would like to acknowledge the ongoing commitment of Dublin City Council in hosting this important all-island celebration, and we look forward to recognising the outstanding achievements of communities across Ireland in October."