30 to Watch: Journalism celebrates the most talented and influential young journalists working in the media today.
Each year, 30 winners under 30 are chosen in recognition of their outstanding investigation, storytelling and impact. Gold winners are selected for each category, ranging from News to Culture, Entertainment & Lifestyle.
The awards are free to enter, and always will be. You must be 30 or under to submit your work.
You can choose one of these categories to enter. For those who didn't attend university, there is an option to be automatically entered into our 'Breakthrough' category.
For journalists who didn’t attend university.
This year’s Breakthrough Award is presented in partnership with the John Schofield Trust. The John Schofield Trust helps aspiring and early career journalists access and navigate the profession by providing world-class mentorship and training. The Trust is offering mentoring to the winner of this award.
For journalists probing and investigating the biggest stories from the world the business.
For journalists writing features and news stories rooted in the cultural trends that are shaping everyday life for their audiences.
For journalists fighting disinformation in the newsroom.
If you have submitted work in another category and it also falls under disinformation, there is an option to be automatically entered into this category.
For journalists telling the most important stories from around the world of healthcare, from consumer health trends through to breaking pharmaceutical news.
For journalists who produced impactful reporting on events, trends and stories taking place outside of the UK.
For journalists breaking the most incisive and revelatory public interest stories throughout the year.
For journalists who have produced outstanding reporting in the public interest across personal finance and consumer affairs, as consumers across the UK contend with rising costs and inflation.
For journalists breaking the biggest stories from around Westminster, Holyrood, the Welsh Parliament or the regions.
For journalists working on the biggest stories via broadcast media, including TV, radio, podcasts and more.
For journalists reporting on innovation and intrigue across science and technology, covering anything and everything from AI through to climate change through to new trends in gaming.
The #30ToWatch Journalism Awards are judged by leading figures from across the media industry. In its fourteenth year, we are delighted to share the judges of the 2026 awards.



















When is the deadline for entries?
The deadline for entries is midnight on Wednesday 15th April.
What is the cost to enter?
The 30 To Watch: Journalism Awards are free to enter.
When should the supporting work be from?
Supporting pieces should have been published 12 months leading up to the closing date of Friday 10th April.
I entered / won last year, can I enter again this year?
Absolutely!
At what point do you have to be 30 to qualify for the awards?
You need to be 30 or younger when entries close, which is 10th April 2026.
How many categories can I enter?
It is one category per entry, however if you didn’t attend university and share that with us (via the drop down box) you will automatically be entered into our Breakthrough Award category.
Can I nominate someone else for the awards?
Yes, we welcome nominations! Check ‘I am nominating someone else’ at the top of the form and fill in your details.
If I nominate someone, will they find out it was me?
No – we will not tell them you nominated them. They will also not receive a trigger email, so won’t know they have been nominated.
Will my work be published?
If you are one of our 30 winners, your work will be on display during the Awards ceremony. We do not publish your work online.
If you have any questions about our 30 To Watch Journalism Awards please email [email protected]