UK Career Development Awards 2026 

2 December 2026 | The Burlington Hotel, Birmingham
Nominations open Monday 1 June 2026

The UK Career Development Awards (UKCDAs) are a high point in the CDI event calendar, when we recognise and celebrate excellence across the career development sector both in the UK and internationally.

Following changes to the Awards categories in 2025, we have also reviewed the timing of the Awards dinner – previously held in June, the evening before the National Careers Leaders’ Conference. This year, the announcement of UKCDA winners and the awards celebration will be held at the CDI National Conference in December.

For 2026, the nominations period will open in early June and close in July. This is a change from recent years when nominations opened in December with a closing date towards the end of January.

This year’s theme is “Careers and All That Jazz”, with a themed evening that encourages attendees to embrace the spirit of the event through optional dress and participation.

The provisional timeline for the 2026 Awards is as follows:

• Nominations open: Monday 1 June
• Nominations close: Monday 13 July, 10 am
• Judging period: Over summer 
• Shortlist announced: Week commencing Monday 7 September
• Winners announced: At the dinner on Wednesday 2 December.

Please note that these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. Full details will be confirmed when nominations open.

Congratulations to all our 2025 winners

The 2025 Awards Ceremony took place on Tuesday 17 June at the Royal National Hotel in London, with a vibrant ‘CDI Carnival of Careers’ theme encouraging attendees to dress up and celebrate in style.

We are delighted to share the winners and shortlisted nominees for each award category. We would like to thank all those who took the time to submit a nomination and we recognise the dedication, innovation and passion that all nominees have for their work. 

A heartfelt thanks to our judges, sponsors, and all attendees for making the evening such a success. It was a glamorous celebration of outstanding careers professionals and a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and build new connections.

The awards took place the evening before the National Careers Leaders’ Conference (18 June, Royal National Hotel, London). 

2025 Photo gallery 

Take a look back at the unforgettable evening celebrating excellence in the careers profession! From candid moments to joyful wins and well-deserved recognition – our photo gallery captures the spirit of the night. 

View the gallery, find your photo, and share the memories!