London, 27 January 2026 – The Association for Geographic Information, the membership group for organisations and individuals working in geospatial, is seeking submissions from individuals and organisations wanting to showcase innovation, achievement, and best practice. New for 2026 are the Chris Holcroft Award in recognition of contribution to UK geospatial industry, and the AGI Foresight Award which is looking for submissions that align with the transformative forces shaping the future of geospatial. The 2026 AGI Awards for Geospatial Excellence are now open and will be presented on the 3rd June 2026 at GEO Business in London.
“We are excited to give the UK geospatial sector the opportunity to showcase the positive impact of geographic data, technology and knowledge,” commented Fergus Craig, Chair of the Association for Geographic Information. “This is the third time we have run the awards in the current format, and we are confident we will once again be overwhelmed, and humbled, by the quality and quantity of submissions. The UK leads the way in geospatial excellence and innovation and this is the perfect way to share that with a wider audience.”
Categories for the 2026 AGI Awards in Excellence include the Chris Holcroft Award. In honour of former Chief Executive of the AGI, this award acknowledges Chris’s legacy and own contributions to the Association and wider industry, and the winner will be chosen and awarded by the current AGI Chair. The second new category for 2026 is the Foresight Award. Building on the AGI Foresight 2030 project, including the visionary Foresight Report, this award is open to submissions from projects that relate to one of the six Foresight Themes (Data, Artificial Intelligence, Interoperability and Infrastructure, Skills Shift, Collaboration, Earth Systems).
The remaining awards are the Geospatial Professional of the Year – judged by an independent panel, and the Early Career Professional of the Year – open for nominations of professionals within the first 10 years of their geospatial careers. The Award for Environment and Sustainability and the Award for Geospatial Technology celebrate and recognise projects, applications and products that contribute to the sustainability of people to co-exist on our planet and forward-thinking solutions that push the boundaries of what is possibly in the industry respectively.
Working with event organisers Diversified Communications, the AGI is once again delighted to be hosting the award presentation ceremony at GEO Business in London. Taking place on the 3-4 June at Excel, GEO Business attracts more than 6,000 professionals, features an exhibition of 110 plus leading brands and start-ups, and includes an education programme made up of more than 150 sessions, across 7 stages, delivered by 200 plus speakers. The AGI will have a significant presence at the event which it will use to make announcements about new AGI Networks, forthcoming surveys, research activities, and outreach events, and to engage with members past, present and future.
Award submissions can be made via the AGI website (https://www.agi.org.uk/agi-awards/) with a closing date of 1700 on the 6th March. These will be judged by a carefully selected panel of thought leaders and geospatial experts from academia, commerce and professional organisations, to ensure fair representation from across the sector. The AGI will also work closely with winners and nominated entries to ensure the communication of excellence and the sharing of best practice through the sector and the wider community.
About the Association for Geographic Information
The Association for Geographic Information is an independent and impartial organisation that represents the UK geospatial sector. Working with members and the wider community, the Association successfully works alongside government policy makers, delivers professional development opportunities and provides a lead for best practice across the industry. Established in 1990, members of the Association for Geographic Information enjoy unrivalled networking opportunities, a framework for learning new skills, and the support to progress professional development.
