Entries are now open for the fourth annual National Dairy Awards, which will be held at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

The organisers of the National Dairy Awards said that, since its launch in 2023, the awards have become a key event in the Irish dairy calendar, "celebrating excellence, innovation and leadership across Ireland's dairy sector".

They say the black-tie awards event will recognise achievement throughout the "dairy ecosystem", from dairy farmers, farm managers, advisors, vets and innovators to artisan producers, processors, discussion groups and industry leaders.

The organisers said that the awards provide an opportunity to showcase best practice, recognise outstanding contributions, and celebrate the individuals and businesses "helping to shape the future of the industry".

There are 20 awards across five main categories:

Farmer Awards;
Farm Network Awards;
Dairy Produce Awards;
Processing Awards;
Headline Awards.

Organisers are encouraging individuals, businesses and organisations, from across the dairy sector, to submit their entries and "benchmark themselves against the very best in the industry".

The closing date for entries is Friday, September 25, 2026.

The winners will be announced at the gala black-tie awards ceremony on November 5, which will bring together "representatives from across Ireland's dairy industry for a night of celebration and networking".

Pig sector awards

In the pig sector, farming awards have also made the news in recent days.

FBD has announced the launch of its Pig Farming Awards 2026 and a €10,000 "Innovation Bursary".

The business said that the awards and bursary reinforce its "commitment to supporting excellence, innovation and leadership within Ireland's pig industry".

The awards programme has been established to recognise "outstanding achievements" across pig production, animal welfare, environmental sustainability and industry leadership.

Meanwhile, the bursary is set to support an "individual capable of delivering meaningful and practical benefits to the sector through research, innovation and knowledge transfer”.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, on October 14, 2026.