Production Futures has announced that nominations are now open for its Breakthrough Talent Awards 2026. The awards recognise the achievements of young people across the production industries and seek to inspire future generations.
With the support and sponsorship of key industry partners, the Awards span twenty-four different categories, reflecting the diversity of opportunity within the production industries. Previous winners have gone on to enjoy flourishing careers with a wide range of companies or have taken up roles as in-demand freelancers with the skills and confidence to meet any challenge. In recent years it also is noteworthy that a significant number of Breakthrough Talent Award winners have gone on to be recognised with other major industry awards.
Production Futures continues to grow and now partners with more than 100 organisations, including manufacturers, service providers, trade associations, education providers, and more, to meet the needs of an industry sector short of skills in a nation where, paradoxically, a million young people are out of work.
In the last 18 months alone, the organisation has grown its audience by 180% and now represents 3,000 highly engaged members from freelancers and students to graduates and career-changers. With social media followings numbering more than 66,000 and reaching in excess of 230,000 channel views across an average 30-day period, and more than 8,000 in-person engagements in the last 12 months at its On Tour events, Production Futures is driving change and growing significant access. The Breakthrough Talent Awards reflect this growth and celebrate the opportunities it brings.
The 2026 edition of the Breakthrough Talent Awards will take place at Production Park in Wakefield during Production Futures’ final ON TOUR event of the year on November 19th. In an exciting first, aimed at encouraging more international newcomers to enter, the presentation will be live-streamed to enable maximum visibility.
CEO of Production Futures, Hannah Eakins, is excited about the launch, which includes a brand new ‘One to Watch’ award, aimed towards newcomers in junior positions: “We’re excited to be opening the nominations for the Breakthrough Talent Awards for 2026. The Awards will once again be centred on ‘access and opportunity’ with winners’ prizes going beyond the traditional ‘glass trophy’ to include mentoring sessions with our judges and sponsors, who are leading industry professionals. The new ‘One to Watch’ award is a very important addition for those at the beginning of their journey.”
“We ask companies, colleges, and colleagues to put forward nominations and also encourage young people who are active within the production sector to nominate themselves,” Eakins concluded.
