Spotlighting world-class talent from across the professional speaking business, The Speaker Awards announced its highly-anticipated 2026 winners at a prestigious ceremony in the heart of London, including Speaker of the Year Robin Kermode.
Celebrating its fifth year in style, The Speaker Awards recognises the inspiring and innovative speakers creating real impact through communication. Now more than ever, the ability to shift perspectives, encourage conversation, and build connections is vital to shaping our ever-changing world.
The culmination of this year’s application, judging, and shortlisting process, the winners of The Speaker Awards 2026 were announced at a glamorous ceremony attended by the very best and brightest of the global professional speaking industry on Friday, 3rd July at the Leonardo Royal Hotel – London St. Paul’s.
Hundreds of entries were expertly assessed by a prestigious panel of independent judges, including prominent bookers, bureaus, strategists, and coaches, with razor-thin scoring margins separating many categories.
The winners of The Speaker Awards 2026 were:
Best Newcomer 2026 – Alex Moffat
Best Motivational Speaker 2026 – Bruce Whitfield
Best Event Host 2026 – Robin Kermode
Best TEDx Speaker 2026 – Susan Heaton-Wright
Best Speaker Showreel 2026 – Chris Bonnello
Best Live Speaker 2026 – Bruce Dickinson
Best AI & Future Technology Speaker 2026 – Svetlana Makarova
Best Storyteller 2026 – Nicola S Morgan
Best Thought Leadership Speaker 2026 – Celynn Morin
Bookers Choice 2026 – Dr Laura Penn
Speaker of the Year is a special award carefully selected from the highest performing entrants. Robin Kermode was 2026’s illustrious recipient after winning Best Event Host 2026 and being named Highly Commended in the Bookers Choice and Best Live Speaker categories. A trusted communication coach to senior business and political leaders, global keynote speaker, and best-selling author, Kermode’s career sits at a unique intersection, integrating modern communication methods with the valuable insights acquired through his impressive acting career, including his role in The Iron Lady.
The event also recognised Leanne Christie for her long-standing contribution to the professional speaking industry. Honoured with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Christie is the pioneering founder and CEO of Ovations International Speaker’s Bureau, Standing Ovations, and Ode Management. For over thirty years, she has played a transformative role in empowering educators, trainers, and professional speakers using her groundbreaking initiatives and business acumen.
In addition, industry stalwart Maria Franzoni, speaking business strategist and former international speaker bureau owner and agent, was honoured with the Lifetime Contribution and Dedication Award for her extensive impact on the profession.
“2026 marked five years of The Speaker Awards, and every year it keeps growing. The quality of this year’s applications was phenomenal. The competition was fierce, making for a tough judging process, so we extend our congratulations to all the winners and highly commended speakers for achieving this impressive milestone,” adds Elliot Kay, CEO and co-founder of The Speaker Awards and The Speaker Summit.
“We would like to express our gratitude to all those who entered this year’s awards. The Speaker Awards Community is making waves around the world; captivating, moving, challenging, and transforming audiences. This is the power of professional speaking in action, and we can’t wait to see what these incredible voices do next,” Kay concludes.
