Writing royalty Jimmy McGovern was amongst those who took to the stage of Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre last night to be honoured at the 2026 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.
More than 500 entries from artists, creatives, volunteers and community groups were whittled down to 55 finalists for the awards that celebrate the very best of Liverpool City Region’s thriving cultural and creative sector.
Winners across 17 categories were revealed at last night’s glittering awards ceremony hosted by TV presenter and Olympic hockey gold medallist Sam Quek MBE at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.
PopVox Choir scooped The People’s Choice Award, which saw a record 4,500 votes cast by the public across the Liverpool City Region.
And writer Jimmy McGovern, the man behind dramas from Time, Unforgiveable and Hillsborough to Cracker and the early days of Brookside was honoured with the Judges Inspiration Award for outstanding creative contribution to the industry.
Other winners included Open Eye Gallery in the Community Cohesion category for their storytelling projects working with refugees and asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQI+ community and D/deaf and BSL users; and Andrew Salim of Central Waste who picked up the Environment Award for his volunteer work bringing together businesses, residents and community groups to clear and revitalise vital green space in some of Liverpool’s most densely populated and deprived areas.
The LCR Culture and Creativity Awards also introduced four new categories this year, including an Excellence in Film & TV award, won by Liverpool Film Office’s delivery of the Liverpool City Region Production Fund, celebrating the huge growth of the industry in the City Region.
Talent within the digital, gaming and creative media sectors was also recognised for the first time, with the Creative / Media Organisation of the Year award presented to ArtsGroupie CIC, while the moments that brought people together were celebrated with a new Live Event of the Year award, taken home by ‘A Celebration of Zoe’s Place at M&S Bank Arena’ in Liverpool.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:
“Culture and creativity are woven into the fabric of who we are in the Liverpool City Region, from our world-famous music scene to the major film and TV productions choosing our region as their backdrop. But what makes us special is the talented people behind it all, helping cement our reputation as the UK’s cultural capital.
“I want to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists for the contribution they have made to our city region.”
Last night marked the 7th annual Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards and the second presented by Sam Quek MBE, who returned after previously presenting the Awards in St Helens in 2024.
Part of the Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Percent for Culture initiative, the accolades recognise the high value and huge contribution the cultural and creative sector brings to the City Region, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, visit, study or do business.
The 2026 event was sponsored by The ACC Liverpool Group, The Guide Liverpool, Hope Street Hotel, Trojan Lighting Solutions and Copeland Group Services.
To find out more about all the categories and winners go to: www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk
The Categories and winners in full:
People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture
Voted for by the public, this award is to celebrate an outstanding contribution to culture and creativity, which has made a significant difference to the quality of life at either local, borough or City Region level.
The winner is:
Pop Vox Choir
Artist / Creative of the Year
This award is to celebrate an individual whose work has stood out and contributed to the cultural and creative reputation of the Liverpool City Region. This could be for a piece of work or a number of arts, cultural or creative projects that collectively have been consistently outstanding.
The winner is:
Abdullrhman Hassona
Arts Organisation of the Year
This award is to celebrate an organisation whose work has stood out and contributed to the cultural and creative reputation of the Liverpool City Region. This could be for a piece of work or a number of arts, cultural or creative projects that collectively have been consistently outstanding.
The winner is:
Liverpool Philharmonic
Business in the Arts Award
This award is to celebrate businesses that make a significant contribution to economic growth within the arts, culture and creativity sector.
The winner is:
Future Yard CIC
Community Cohesion Award
This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on bringing communities together.
The winner is:
Open Eye Gallery
NEW: Creative / Media Individual of the Year
This award recognises an individual working in the creative / media industries including film, television, digital, gaming, or music, who has made a significant impact over the past year.
The winner is:
Claire Savage-Hocking
NEW: Creative / Media Organisation of the Year
This award celebrates a business or organisation in the creative / media industries including film, television, digital, gaming, or music, that has achieved outstanding success over the past year.
The winner is:
ArtsGroupie CIC
Creative Innovation Award
This award is to celebrate game changing innovation, through the development of a new product or process in either the creative media industries – film, television, digital, gaming, music, or technology, business, healthcare or science by the application of creativity. This game changing innovation could develop and introduce new ideas and improved ways of doing things.
The winner is:
GoodShip*
Developing Creative Skills Awards
This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on developing creative, technical, transferable and life skills in preparing young people for the world of work in the arts and creative industries.
The winner is:
Conquer Life CIC
Environmental Award
This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on the green agenda, including environmental sustainability and contribution to net zero targets.
The winner is:
Andrew Salim
NEW: Excellence in Film & TV
This award celebrates excellence in the creation and development of film and television within the Liverpool City Region.
The winner is:
Liverpool City Region Production Fund | Liverpool Film Office
Special Recognition to:
Lee Sandales
Health & Wellbeing Award
This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has in health and wellbeing.
The winner is:
Dancing Queens, The Black Women’s Health Forum
Improving Education & Learning Award
This award is to celebrate the impact of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in education and learning.
The winner is:
Ariel Trust
Inspirational Young Person Award
This award is to celebrate the impact of a young person under the age of 25 who displays an innovative and inspiring approach to art, culture and/or creativity.
The winner is:
Trinity Brierley
International Reach Award
This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on strengthening international relationships.
The winner is:
Liverpool Biennial
NEW: Live Event of the Year
This award celebrates an outstanding live event that has showcased creativity and culture within the Liverpool City Region.
The winner is:
`A Celebration of Zoe’s Place` at M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
Judges Inspiration Award – Outstanding Achievement
This award is to celebrate and recognise an individual’s outstanding creative contribution to the Liverpool City Region. This award is decided by the judging panel.
The winner will be someone whose body of work merits recognition for outstanding achievement and who has made a significant creative impact on their area of activity or expertise and will be announced at the ceremony.
The winner is:
Jimmy McGovern
The Judging Panel
The LCR Culture and Creativity Awards Judging Panel was made up of:
- Chris Brown – Place, Tourism and Change Maker
- Dr Emma Roberts – Associate Dean for Global Engagement and Reader in History of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University
- Enda Carey – Sector Skills Champion, Studio School Liverpool
- Helen Cross – Digital & Creative Sector Lead, Liverpool City Region
- Jane Beardsworth – Senior Manager North, Arts Council England
- Kate Royse – Director, Hartree Centre
- Maleka Egeonu-Roby – Contracts and Performance Manager, Race Equality Hub
- Ngunan Adamu – Broadcaster, Presenter and Producer
- Rachel McLean – Director of the LJMU School of Art & Creative Industries and Chair of LCR Creative Industries Cluster Board
- Rob March – Founder of GigMate, and Investment & Internationalisation Officer – Digital and Creative LCRCA
- Sarah Vasey – Arts Development Manager. Culture Liverpool
- Jernice Easthope – TV Producer and Director 0483 Limited
- Jay Hynd – Founder and Managing Director of The Guide Liverpool.
About the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.
Part of the Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Percent for Culture initiative, these awards recognise the value and huge contribution that the cultural and creative sector bring to the Liverpool City Region, reinforcing it as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, visit, study or do business.
Previous winners include the Africa Oyé Festival, Make CIC, Pagoda Arts and muralist Paul Curtis.
The judging panel shortlists the finalists for each category from the nominations received. For the People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture, the public will vote for the winner.
Nominees must live, study and/or work in the Liverpool City Region (e.g. Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) or have created work/projects that significantly benefit the residents or visitors to the Liverpool City Region and/or has positively contributed to the development of the local economy.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected]
