The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education 2026 held

The 2026 round of the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education, regarded as one of the highest national honours in higher and further education in the United Kingdom, has successfully concluded. Presented every two years, the Prize recognises universities and colleges that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and clearly evidenced benefit both to their institutions and to society at large.

The creation of the Prize scheme was announced in Parliament in 1993 by then Prime Minister John Major, with the consent of Queen Elizabeth II and with all-party support. The first awards were presented in 1994, and the process has continued on a biennial basis ever since.

The assessment process is managed by the Royal Anniversary Trust and involves a rigorous and independent review lasting several months. It includes consultation with experts, specialists, and representatives from the public and non-governmental sectors. A shortlist is reviewed by expert panels, after which the Awards Council submits its final recommendations to the Prime Minister. The final list is then approved by the Monarch.

Prize winners are traditionally announced at St James’s Palace and subsequently presented with their awards by a senior member of the Royal Family at an investiture ceremony held at Buckingham Palace. In October 2024, the scheme was officially renamed the “Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.”

The 2026 round recognised a number of higher and further education institutions across diverse fields. Among the recipients was Loughborough University, honoured for its pioneering research and innovative approach in Para and disability sport.

The university’s long-standing partnership with ParalympicsGB and its commitment to building an inclusive sporting ecosystem were particularly commended. Initiatives supported for decades by the Peter Harrison Foundation have made a significant contribution to the United Kingdom’s Paralympic success. With this achievement, Loughborough has now received the Prize eight times overall, a record surpassed only by the University of Oxford.

Also among the 2026 awardees was North West Regional College (NWRC), recognised for its impact on strengthening the regional economy and fostering business innovation. Through its Business Support Centre, the College has delivered more than 140 applied research and development projects in recent years, supporting hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises in innovation and product development. Additionally, more than 1,000 individuals have benefited from upskilling and priority training programmes.

Representatives of NWRC received the award from King Charles III, with particular emphasis placed on the College’s strategic role in regional development.

Over the past 30 years, the Prizes have been awarded across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including arts and humanities, business and the economy, health and medicine, engineering and manufacturing, environmental studies, pure and applied sciences, and social sciences.

A distinctive feature of the Prize is that it recognises not only the specific project or team behind the achievement, but the institution as a whole and its broader strategic vision. This approach promotes long-term institutional development and sustained societal impact.

The 2026 round once again demonstrated that the UK’s higher and further education sector maintains a strong position not only in academic excellence but also in social responsibility, inclusivity, and economic contribution.

The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education will continue to highlight innovative approaches, impactful initiatives, and academic achievements that deliver tangible benefits to society on a national and global scale.