It takes just a minute to create an account, all we need is your name, email address and a password. That’s it. Once you’re registered, we can keep you up to date on deadlines, category info, and judges tips. You can then save the categories you’re interested in and come back at any time, up until deadline day, to complete your entry. Just remember to keep saving your progress once you start putting your entry together.

Firstly, you can enter on either the ‘2026 CATEGORIES’ or ENTER NOW’ pages. And then there are two ways:

Step 1 Click on the ‘ENTER HERE’ button underneath the countdown, then either log into your existing account or click ‘Don’t have an account’ and enter your name, work email address, and create a password (remembering to make a note of the password or save it). And click ‘Submit’. BOOM, account created. You’ve taken your first step to glory at the Printweek Awards!

Step 2 Select the categories you’re potentially interested in entering

To see the detailed criteria for a category, simply click on the corresponding down arrow next to the listing. To save the categories you're interested in simply select the associated box(es) and then click on the 'Process >>' pop up to either create an account (it takes one minute) or log in to your existing account. You can come back and start your actual entry later.

We have two:

• Friday 14 November 2025: if you complete your online entry by midnight on this date your first entry is free. Simply use Use code 'FREEEARLYBIRD' at checkout. Additional entries are £175+VAT
• Monday 8 December 2025: Standard entry deadline - All entries submitted after early bird deadline £175+VAT
  

You simply have to complete your entry, or at least your first entry by midnight Friday 14 November 2025. Once you have completed your online entry, simply use this code 'FREEEARLYBIRD' at checkout. Additional entries are £175+VAT

Yes, you can. You have until midnight on Monday 8 December 2025 to complete additional entries. The standard fee is £175+VAT.

You absolutely can. We’re happy to help you in any way we can, short of writing the actual entry for you! Just contact either alexander.foy@markallengroup.com or jessica.dunmall@markallengroup.com.

Items should be able to fit though a standard UK door frame (1,981x762 mm), if your entry is larger then please speak to the Awards team, either alexander.foy@markallengroup.com or jessica.dunmall@markallengroup.com

Remember, for the wide-format category, samples such as billboards, exhibition graphics, experiential marketing and building wraps etc. the samples supplied should be a 1 metre square section of the actual printed job at 100% scale, along with photographs of the full installation in situ, a high-quality/contract proof and a 250-word summary.

Yes, you can enter the same sample (or samples) into multiple relevant categories. However, remember that each category has different criteria so your written submission may need to be amended accordingly.

The only category that a company can enter more than once is the ‘Trainee of the Year’ category. All other categories can only be entered once by an individual company.

In the Quality categories, yes. The Quality categories are: Bespoke Digital Printer of the Year, Bespoke Publications, Book Printer, Data-driven Printer*, Label Printer, Packaging Printer, Post-press Company, and Wide-format Printer.

For these categories you need to submit four different print samples each with a written submission on how it was produced. *The only exception is the Data-driven Printer of the Year category, this category is for one project or campaign – so you only need to submit one sample here.

No samples are required for the Performance categories, with two exceptions:

• In the Innovation – Application Category, however brilliant your 500-word summary, you may be scored down if the judges can’t see and touch your brilliantly innovative application.
• Print samples are also welcomed for the Marketing Campaign category if print was an integral part of the campaign.
  

No, all printed submissions need to be live, commercial jobs produced for a client. The only exceptions are the Marketing Campaign of the Year and Innovation of the Year. In these two categories you can submit your own marketing material.

Yes you do, but technology is your friend and we've created the platform to be as user friendly as possible. We have also created Word templates so that you can complete your entry offline if you prefer and then copy and paste the text into the online platform. However, these are NOT entry forms, they are simply aids for creating your online entry, offline.

Yes we do.

1 Firstly, register now – creating an account takes seconds and it means we can keep you up to date.

2 You do not have to complete your entry in one sitting, just remember to save your entry at each stage. You can come back and complete your entry at any time up to the deadline.

3 Alternatively, after registering and checking the entry requirements, draft your entry offline using one of these basic templates and then copy and paste the text into the corresponding section on the online entry.

4 Please make sure that once you have completed your entry it is properly submitted on our platform. If your entry remains in 'Saved Items' or your 'Basket', this entry will not be properly submitted. We cannot submit your entry on your behalf from the 'Saved Items' or 'Basket' section as you will need to complete payment.

5 After answering all the entry questions, please click continue. Complete your personal details and click next. On the next page click complete to submit your entry. • Please upload a photo/photos of each of your physical samples that will be submitted.

6 While the judging panel will only review the physical samples, photos of your submission aid the judging process in terms of identifying the correct sample and may also be used in the AV presentation on the big night if your entry is shortlisted.

7 Each file upload field can upload a single file up to 40MB. Please do not:
*Attempt to upload individual files that are larger than 40MB
*Attempt to upload ZIP or compressed files in the upload file fields

If you have any issues, please contact the awards team and we will be happy to help: alexander.foy@markallengroup.com or jessica.dunmall@markallengroup.com.

Absolutely.

Five top tips for the Quality Awards (Bespoke Digital Printer, Bespoke Publications, Book Printer, Data-driven Printer, Label Printer, Packaging Printer, Post-press Company, and Wide-format Printer)

1. Just because a project was produced for your biggest or most well-known client doesn’t automatically mean it’s an award winner. The judges are wowed by exceptional and challenging work printed and finished beautifully, so don’t just ask your sales team which four projects you should enter, ask the production team too.
2. Remember to mention in your citation why the job should be considered. Tell us a story. We can see it’s gorgeous (that’s why we insist on print samples, not just photos), but why was it challenging? Was there a sustainability story? Was the budget modest? Was the deadline impossible? Or was it the first time you had done this type of job?
3. The judging panel is largely made up of buyers, so what was the feedback, tell us what the client said – or better yet, include a testimonial.
4. Obvious we know, but please pack your samples well and make sure they’re perfect. Pulling together an entry from samples that have been rolling around your car boot for a few months are unlikely to wow the judges.
5. Tell us how you did it, remember to mention the kit you used if you can. Why, you ask – because our judges know their onions, and they are genuinely interested in the equipment and techniques used.

Five top tips for Performance Awards (Company of the Year, Customer Service Team, Environmental, Marketing Campaign, SME, and Trainee)

1. Your 500-word summary can be just that, a summary. So, pull together your supporting evidence and the highlight the most important information in the evidence so that the judging panel can then read more about it. BUT, remember the judges have a lot of entries – so there’s no need to include hundreds and hundreds of pages of evidence – for example, if you have an ISO there’s no need to include everything you submitted to get it – just pick out the info that’s pertinent.
2. And remember, the awards are annual – so we’re looking at improvements or performance over a set period in time. Typically 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 so focus on that time frame.
3. BUT, if it helps to tell the story then include the same data from the year prior – then the judges can see exactly what you have done and the impact it’s had.
4. Company of the Year and SME of the Year, need a full set of accounts including profit-and-loss and balance sheets for the period October 2024 to the end of September 2025 (management accounts acceptable for periods falling outside your financial year), but without the same information, supplied in the same format for the previous year we’re unlikely to appreciate the scale of your achievement. Equally, in this category, more is more – so feel free to submit accounts for additional previous years if you feel it helps tell your sustainable growth story.
5. You’re not being scored on your prowess for prose, but remember spell check is your friend. And while you won’t be scored down for using generative AI (Chat GPT etc) to polish your 500 summary, please double check to make sure it hasn’t muddled up the facts. We cherish our AI overlords, but they can get a little carried away on occasions!
   

The shortlist will be announced on 22 January 2026.

The results are announced at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday 5 March 2026. Bookings for the awards ceremony open in December, but if you would like to find out more about sponsoring the Awards then contact james.cockburn@markallengroup.com.

The Brewery, London 52 Chiswell Street, London,EC1Y 4SD

The Brewery is a truly historic, Grade II listed London venue occupying the buildings of Whitbread’s 18th Century beer-making empire located in central London. In one way or another, it has been entertaining Londoners since 1750. Discover more about the venue's history here

The entire industry is welcome, well, as many as we can fit into the iconic Brewery anyway. While the shortlistees are the stars of the show, the event is a celebration of UK print with unrivalled networking opportunities. Print buyers, print leaders, and leading industry vendors are all welcome.

Yes, the dress code is Black Tie.

• 6.30pm - VIP reception,
• 7.20pm - Call to Dinner, 
• 1am - Bars close and evening concludes

Under 18s are not permitted unless with prior written permission from the event organiser.

Supporting materials will not be returned, but you can arrange a collection. If you would like to collect your samples please ensure that you’ve specified this on your entry form. Supporting material can be made available for collection from Monday 16 March 2026 and will be held until Friday 27 March 2026, after which it will be disposed of.

Terms and conditions can be reviewed by clicking here.

Booking terms and conditions can be reviewed by clicking here.