Birmingham came alive as hundreds of digital professionals from across the UK gathered for the inaugural National Digital Awards 2026 – and what unfolded was nothing short of spectacular.
From the moment guests entered the venue, the atmosphere was electric. Bringing together agency founders, marketers, creatives, strategists, developers, innovators and digital leaders from every corner of the country, the National Digital Awards proved that the UK digital sector has a brand-new stage worthy of its talent, resilience and impact.
Hosted by the incredible PJ Ellis, the evening was packed with energy, celebration and unforgettable moments. Guests danced, sang and celebrated long into the night with phenomenal entertainment from Hit the Dhol and The Undercover Artists, creating an atmosphere that simply cannot be described in words – you truly had to be there.
And yes… for anyone who missed it, this was definitely a case of FOMO.
Created by digital entrepreneur Qasim Majid alongside award-winning event organisers Ifraz Ahmed and Anita Chumber of B Events, the National Digital Awards were established to shine a light on the unsung heroes of the industry and celebrate the exceptional work agencies and digital professionals produce every single day.
Speaking during the evening, Qasim Majid reflected on the inspiration behind launching the awards:
“Back in September 2025, I spoke to Myah (my daughter) who told me she was doing a Masters in AI completely outside of her comfort zone. She said, ‘because it makes me uncomfortable, and that’s why I’ve got to do it.’ That conversation gave me a kick up the arse. If something feels uncomfortable, do it. A mirror was held up to me and it pushed me to finally launch the National Digital Awards.”
He continued:
“These awards are about recognising the unsung heroes, the people quietly doing brilliant work every day. Agencies have battled through COVID, economic uncertainty, rising pressures, AI disruption and constant change, yet they continue to innovate, create jobs, launch incredible campaigns and drive businesses forward. This isn’t about money. It’s about recognising people who work tirelessly, who carry the pressure of payroll, sleepless nights and responsibility and still produce amazing work.”
Qasim also highlighted the importance of accessibility and quality within the awards process, ensuring the platform remained open to agencies and individuals of all sizes across the UK.
The evening also saw the presentation of two special honours: The Founder’s Award, recognising an individual who has given back significantly to the industry and wider community, and The Myah Award, celebrating trailblazers who step outside their comfort zones to create opportunities, innovation and impact.
In another major announcement of the night, Qasim officially unveiled the upcoming Agency Slap Summit, taking place this October — a brand-new event designed to bring together agency leaders and the brightest minds in digital.
To find out more or get involved, visit:
Agency Slap Summit
The organisers also paid special thanks to the event sponsors whose support helped bring the inaugural event to life, including GoKwik, Blutui, MRE Digital and South & City College Birmingham.
The official charity partner for the evening was Centrepoint, with guests generously helping raise over £2,500 on the night in support of the charity’s vital work tackling youth homelessness across the UK.
Co-Founders of B Events, Ifraz Ahmed and Anita Chumber, said:
“From day one we believed in Qasim’s vision for the National Digital Awards and what this platform could become for the industry. To see a room filled with so much talent, energy, creativity and celebration was incredible. The digital sector deserved a night like this and judging by the atmosphere, the National Digital Awards have truly arrived.”
The organisers also extended their thanks to the judging panel, partners and supporters whose contributions made the inaugural event possible.
As the celebrations came to a close, one thing was abundantly clear, this was not simply another awards ceremony. The National Digital Awards has established itself as a major new fixture in the UK’s digital calendar, and the industry is already looking ahead to what comes next.
SEE ALL THE OFFICIAL PICS HERE
#NDA26 #UnitedInDigital
See the full list of winners:
Best Agency Software Vendor – Rofinery
Platform Tool (MarTech & AI) – Birmingham City Council – Voice Automation
Best Use of AI (Client Side) – Clear Two
Best Use of AI (Agency Side) – Comtec Translations
Best UX Designer (Team, Agency, or Individual) – Scott Barker – Brew
Best Use of Video-Animation – Tinker Taylor
PPC Campaign of the Year – UK Soccer Shop – JudeLuxe
Best SEO Agency – Blink
Best Digital PR Agency – NOVOS
Influencer Marketing Campaign – Mitchells & Butlers Campaign – Brew
Social Media Campaign of the Year – Yakanori Campaign – SHC Digital
Best Development Agency – Hiyield
App Development Agency of the Year – Untapped
Best Digital Transformation Project – Monsoon Consulting
The Founders Award – Nathan Lomax – Quickfire Digital
The Myah Award – Aisha Riaz – The EWord
B2B eCommerce Agency – illuminise
B2C eCommerce Agency – Untapped
Best eCommerce Agency – NOVOS
Public Sector & Charity Digital Agency of the Year – Giant Digital
Emerging Talent Under 30 – Belal Arabi – Suri Marketing
Best Agency Ops Director – Jax Shaw – JudeLuxe
Best Agency Team (Small) – Pixelbuilders
Best Agency Culture DEI Initiative – Hive IT Ltd
Start Up Agency of the Year – Gravitas Talent
Large Agency of the Year (50+ Employees) – IDX
Best Agency Network – Growth Society
