Q. How do l enter the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards 2025?

Applications for the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards open 12noon Wednesday, 6 May 2026 and close at 5.00pm Friday, 26 June 2026.

To apply, create an account via the online application portal and submit a separate application for each category you wish to enter. Full application steps, eligibility information and key dates are available on the How to apply page.

If you experience any issues submitting your application, please contact the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team on (07) 3006 6200 or via the enquiry form.

 

Q. Is my business eligible for application?

Most businesses operating in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA) are eligible to enter the Awards. This includes:

• businesses with their registered office in the Brisbane LGA;
• businesses that are operating in Brisbane through a physical office but do not have a registered office in Brisbane;
• non-for-profit organisations operating in Brisbane that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission and are:
• a company; or
• an incorporated association; or
• constituted by a trust endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a charity and has an Australian Business Number.

The following businesses or individuals are not eligible to enter the Awards:

• government agencies, statutory bodies or wholly or partly owned businesses and subsidiaries of the State Government, (with the exception of education institutions);
• official award sponsors in their own sponsored Award category and their employees, however, they can enter other categories;
• subsidiary companies of Brisbane City Council;
• employees of Brisbane City Council and its subsidiary companies including Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) ; and
• any applicant that does not meet the eligibility criteria detailed in the terms and conditions.

Businesses can confirm their eligibility via the enquiry form on this website prior to submitting their application form.

 

Q. How do I know which category to enter?

Each award category has a clear description and eligibility overview on the Categories page. Detailed judging criteria for each category are available in the application portal once applications open.

Please note, the Optus Platinum Award is not open for direct application. It is awarded to the most outstanding winner across all business categories.

 

Q. Can my business enter in more than one category?

Yes, businesses can apply in more than one category, provided they meet the criteria for each category they apply for.

Q. Can I apply on behalf of another business or person?

Yes. Applications can be submitted by a third party. If you apply on behalf of another business or individual, the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team will contact them to confirm acceptance of the application.

We recommend submitting third‑party applications as early as possible, to allow time for the applicant to review, add to and approve the application before submission.

Q. Who should I involve in helping to develop my application?

You may wish to involve people within your business who can contribute relevant information, such as operational or financial details. Some applicants also seek feedback from an independent or impartial reviewer before submitting.

Please note, while the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team can assist with technical or process‑related questions, they are unable to provide advice or feedback on application content.

Q. Can I only apply for achievements from the 2025/26 financial year?

No. Eligible achievements may span multiple financial years, depending on the category. Each category has its own timeframe requirements, which are outlined in the category criteria and detailed in the application portal.

Q. Can I provide supporting material?

Yes. Supporting material is required for the Business Person of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories, including both a business and a personal written reference.

For all other categories, supporting material is optional and may be submitted to support your application. This can include images, logos, links to video, brochures or presentations. Please note that judges may not review optional attachments.

Supporting material must not be used to extend responses beyond the stated word limits in the application form.

Q. How will I know if my entry is received?

You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been submitted.

Q. What if my contact details change after I submit my entry?

If your contact details change before the application deadline, you can update them directly in the application portal.

If your details change after the application deadline, please notify us via the enquiry form and the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team will update your information.

Q. What happens to my entry at the conclusion of the Awards?

Brisbane Economic Development Agency retains electronic copies of all applications for probity and record‑keeping purposes. All information is managed in accordance with the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards Terms and Conditions.

Q. How secure is my entry in terms of confidentiality?

All applications are treated as confidential throughout the judging process and are only accessible to Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Brisbane City Council and the judging panel.

Judges are required to sign confidentiality agreements. Some non‑confidential business information (excluding financial data, employee personal information and referee details) may be used for marketing and promotional purposes in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

Q. Who judges my entry?

Applications are assessed by an independent panel of local and national experts with experience across relevant business disciplines.

Q. How will I know if I'm selected as a finalist?

Finalists will be notified by phone by the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team once judging has concluded. Finalists can expect to be contacted in August 2026, ahead of finalist presentations in September 2026.

An email will be sent to all entrants after the finalists have been announced.

Q. What is the next step if I'm selected as a finalist?

If you are selected as a finalist, you will be required to provide a letter from an independent accountant confirming that the business is trading solvent. This information is reviewed by an appointed accountant, and all financial information is treated as strictly confidential.

Finalists will also be required to participate in a presentation to the judging panel. Presentations will take place between 1 September and 18 September 2026, with each presentation lasting no longer than 25 minutes.

Finalists will be notified of their presentation date and time at least one week in advance by the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team.

Q. How do I purchase tickets to the Ceremony?

All tickets will be available for purchase through our secure online booking system. Tickets will go on sale in July 2026.

Q. Who are some of the past winners and finalists of the Awards?

Please refer to the Award Winners section of the site.

Q. Can I enter the Awards next year?

Yes. Businesses and individuals may apply again in future years.

If you are a category winner and wish to apply for the same category in a subsequent year, your application must demonstrate new or different achievements.

Please note, Lifetime Achievement Award winners are not eligible to apply for the Business Person of the Year Award.

Q. Do I get feedback on my application?

Yes. All applicants may request feedback on their application. Feedback requests must be submitted via the enquiry form and, where requested, are provided after the Awards program has concluded.

Q. If I have more questions, who can I contact?

If you have further questions about the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, please submit them via the enquiry form on the Awards website. A member of the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards team will respond via return email.