Empowering Business and Celebrating Excellence.
Empowering business and celebrating excellence
The 2degrees Auckland Business Awards are a celebration of innovation and creativity in the business sector. For over 25 years, these awards have been a highlight of Auckland’s business calendar, bringing together businesses of all sizes and industries to showcase their talent, products and services, strategic thinking, marketing and customer service.
The awards provide an opportunity for businesses to gain recognition and celebrate their achievements. Plus, you can connect with other business leaders and build valuable relationships within the business community.
At the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards, we believe every business has a unique story to tell. Whether you’re a small start-up or a large, established company, we want to hear about your innovative and creative solutions, your commitment to sustainability and your customers, as well as your employment practices. We want to hear about the impact you are making in your industry and community.
Through our categories, we aim to recognise businesses that are excelling in key areas of business excellence, from customer service delivery and community contribution to innovation and sustainability to marketing and strategic planning. We believe that these categories represent the most important areas of business success, and we are excited to celebrate the innovative and impactful businesses who enter each category.
Join us in celebrating the exceptional businesses in Auckland’s business community at the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards!
For many entering is only the beginning
The 2degrees Auckland Business Awards offer more than just recognition for businesses’ hard work. They provide a valuable opportunity to gain insights from industry experts and compare progress with peers. Entering these awards takes dedication and courage, and we celebrate those businesses that see them as a chance to grow and succeed.
Taking part in the awards allows businesses to celebrate their teams, gain valuable feedback, and take important steps towards growth and success. For many, being named a finalist is just the start of an exciting journey towards achieving their goals.
Entries for the awards open each year in early April, with finalists announced early August. Regional winners are honoured at Regional Cocktail Events held September. The awards conclude with the Best of the Best Gala Dinner in November, where the overall winners are announced.
Any business of any size in the Auckland area can enter the awards, and there is no charge to enter. The Chamber offers support to help businesses prepare and submit their entries, including a podcast called “It’s Kind of a Big Deal,” with new episodes each week, as well as entry support and informative webinars on how to enter.
The Awards Process and Important Dates
April 15, 2026 - Awards Open
The entry period for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards opens on April 15th, providing businesses in Auckland with the opportunity to reflect on their achievements as a business within the range of categories.
Creating an entry for the award is about more than just the business; it’s also about recognising the efforts of the team and the people who have been part of the business journey.
Entries for the award are completed entirely online, providing convenience and flexibility for businesses during the entry process. Businesses can progress through the entry form, save it as a draft, and return to complete it at any time during the entry period.
This flexibility allows businesses to take their time to reflect on their achievements, work as a team and present a strong case for consideration for the award.
July 5th, 2026 - Entries Close
Entries for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards will close at 11:59pm on July 5th and will then be in the hands of the judges. This is an important stage in the process as the judges carefully review and evaluate each entry to determine the finalists for each category.
It’s a thorough process that takes time, but businesses can expect updates via email about when the finalists will be announced. During this time, judges may reach out to businesses for more information or clarification. However, not all businesses will be contacted by a judge. It’s important to note that not being contacted by a judge does not necessarily mean that a business is not a finalist, nor does being contacted by a judge mean that a business is a finalist. The judges are carefully considering all entries, and we will announce the finalists online through a live finalist function in August.
July, 2026 - Judges Visit
The 2degrees Auckland Business Awards has a comprehensive judging process that takes place between 6 July to 3 August. Not all businesses will receive a judge’s visit during this period, and whether or not a business is contacted by a judge does not necessarily indicate their finalist status.
Finalists will be announced on 6 August via eDM, social media and 2degrees Auckland Business Awards website.
It’s important to keep in mind that this information may not be specific to the category you have entered or may be in reference to a combination of categories. This is also an opportunity for the judges to see other elements of your business to determine if you win your category, could you be the 2degrees Supreme Business Excellence Award winner.
August, 2026 - Finalist Announcements
The announcement of finalists for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards takes place early August. The announcement is made region by region, with the North & West region being announced first, followed by South & East, and then Central.
The announcement will be made via eDM, social media and 2degrees Auckland Business Awards website.
September - Regional Cocktail Events
The traditional regional gala dinners have pivoted to Regional Finalist Cocktail Evenings taking place on the 2nd September (North & West), 8th September (South/East) and 17th September (Central). These events will create more relaxed, high value networking opportunities while still recognising outstanding businesses and finalists within each region.
November 2026 - Best of the Best 2026
The 2degrees Auckland Business Awards Best of the Best Gala dinner is the pinnacle of the awards program. It brings together the category winners who are the best of the best from each of the regions to celebrate the overall winners. The night is a glamorous and prestigious affair, with the top businesses in Auckland coming together to network, socialise, and celebrate their achievements.
The gala dinner features entertainment, 5-star cuisine, and an awards ceremony to reveal the overall winners. The highlight of the night is the announcement of the 2degrees Supreme Business Excellence Award winner, which recognises the business that has shown exceptional excellence across all areas of their operations.
The Best of the Best Gala dinner is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your business’s success, network with other top businesses in Auckland, and be inspired by the success stories of others. It’s a night to dress up, enjoy the festivities, and celebrate the best of Auckland’s business community. The event is highly anticipated each year, and it’s an honor to be among the businesses that are invited to attend.
Awards Categories
Do you have a unique approach to customer service, have embraced innovation, or achieved outstanding growth and success? Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your achievements and gain recognition by entering the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards.
With nine categories to choose from, there’s a chance for every business to shine. Whether you’re a small, medium, or large business, or specialise in strategy and planning, marketing, or innovation, there’s a category that recognises businesses that have excelled in specific areas.
Not only will entering the awards provide exposure and prestige, but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate your team and connect with other business leaders, making valuable connections along the way. Don’t wait any longer – check out the categories and take your business to the next level!
Meet Our Judges
The judges for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards are business leaders from across New Zealand, including the judging convener, lead judges, and category judges. They have been carefully selected for their expertise, experience, and commitment to recognising excellence in business.
Although not all businesses will have the opportunity to meet the judges, the judging process is transparent, and all entries will be thoroughly and impartially reviewed by the independent judging panel. With their guidance and expertise, the finalists and winners of each category will be determined based on specific criteria. The judges’ decisions will be final, and all businesses will benefit from their expertise.
