Entry is open to any business based in NSW that holds a valid ABN, subject to the entry criteria for each individual award. If you are not a member of Business NSW or any of our subsidiaries, you will become a free member during the registration process. 

NORTHERN RIVERS

In 2026 there are three ways to enter the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards:

1. Through a Local Business Awards Program

If your business is in a local council area that runs a participating local business awards program, you must enter through that local awards program first.

If you win an eligible category in the local awards, you will automatically move on to the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards.

Local councils areas that have run local awards in 2026 include:

• Tweed Shire
• Clarence Valley
• Richmond Valley
• Lismore
• Ballina

Winners from these local awards are automatically entered into the regional awards.

2. Direct Regional Entry (Special Exception)

You can enter the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards directly only if:

• Your business is located in a council area that does not currently run a participating local business awards program (Byron Shire and Kyogle in 2026), or
• The award category you want to enter was not available in your local awards program.

3. Business NSW Members Only

If you are a Business Insights, Business Essentials, or Regional Leader member of Business NSW, you can enter the regional awards directly, no matter where your business is located within the Northern Rivers region.

There is no fee for a business to submit their entry however all participating businesses must be a My Business member.

Find out more about becoming a free My Business member and how we can support your business here.

NORTHERN RIVERS

There is no entry fee.

In 2026, two local government areas in the Northern Rivers, did not run local business awards - Kyogle and Byron Shire.  If you are a business in either of these local government areas, you just need an ABN number and you can enter the Northern Rivers Business Awards here: 2026 Awards

Or

If your business is located in the:

• Tweed 
• Clarence Valley
• Richmond Valley
• Lismore
• Ballina

and the category you want to enter was not available in your local awards program, you can also enter the Northern Rivers 2026 Business Awards here: 2026 Awards

Otherwise, if you are a Business Insights, Business Essentials or Regional Leader member of Business NSW, you can enter the Northern Rivers 2026 Awards directly, no matter where you business is located within the Northern Rivers region.

Yes, you can enter as many categories as you like provided your business fits within the category criteria.

No, businesses can only enter one Region in the 2025 Business Awards. This also applies to branches of larger organisations.

Finalists will be announced on the Business NSW website. Please check the key dates for your region here.

Once an entry is submitted an auto confirmation email will be sent. If you do not receive a confirmation email please check your junk inbox or contact businessawards@businessnsw.com

If you experience an error, please email businessawards@businessnsw.com

All submissions are confidential and are handled in line with the NSWBC Privacy Policy and Business Awards Program Terms & Conditions. 

Feedback on your submission can be provided on request via businessawards@businessnsw.com

Please review the program Terms & Conditions here.

Regional and State winners are eligible to enter the same category in the subsequent year that they have won, up to a maximum of three consecutive years. If the same organisation or person wins the same category at either the Regional or State awards three years in a row, they will be placed in the Hall of Fame for that category. The organisation or person who is placed in the Hall of Fame will then be excluded from entry into that category at both Regional and State for the next two consecutive years. 

Each category is judged by a panel of up to three judges that are selected from subject matter experts, Business Award program partners or Business NSW and My Business executive management. Each entry is judged individually with all three judges scores averaged to achieve the final score.

For any enquiries, please email businessawards@businessnsw.com or call 03 5222 9547.