In a talent market where organisations are competing to attract the best people, what makes your workplace stand out? External recognition can strengthen your employer brand and provide credible proof of what your organisation is doing differently. Recognised Best Workplaces receive 40% more job applications per opening than their peers.
This growing emphasis on people and workplace culture is reflected in the 2026 Future of HR Awards, which has recorded a 50% increase in corporate participation compared with the same point last year. The growth signals increasing focus across Corporate South Africa on people development, human-centric leadership and building workplaces where both people and performance can thrive.
With more organisations competing across the categories, this year’s Awards are set to be the most competitive yet. The Awards have evolved beyond an HR milestone to become a broader benchmark for leadership, organisational culture and people strategy, with CEOs and senior leaders encouraged to enter and attend the gala.
At the heart of the Awards is a simple message: true leadership is reflected in how organisations develop their people and build their cultures. Show it, don’t say it.
Celebrating excellence across HR, leadership and workplace culture
The 2026 Future of HR Awards recognise the strategies, initiatives and leadership approaches making a measurable difference to people and business.
Categories include:
- The Future of HR: Employer of Choice – Small to Medium Organisations
- The Future of HR: Employer of Choice – Large Organisations
- The Future of HR: Employer of Choice – Public Sector Organisations
- The Future of HR: Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
- The Future of HR: Best Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- The Future of HR: Best Learning and Development Strategy
- The Future of HR: HR Industry Innovation Using Technology Sponsored by Ornecy
- The Future of HR: Best HR Team of the Year
- The Future of HR: CEO of the Year
- The Future of HR: Leader of the Year
- The Future of HR: HR Rising Star of the Year (35 years or younger)
Together, the categories reflect HR’s growing role in shaping workplace culture, developing talent, enabling performance and supporting business strategy.
Building on previous year’s award-winning organisations
The 2026 Awards build on a strong legacy of organisations putting people, culture and performance at the heart of their strategies. Last year’s winners spanned leading corporates, SMMEs and public-sector organisations, including Eskom, Mint Group, Virgin Active, Nando’s, Unilever South Africa, Schneider Electric South Africa, Smollan, BEE123 and African Bank.
The Awards also recognised individual excellence, with winners including Brigitte da Gama of McDonald’s South Africa, Serena Kesari of Mondi, Preneshen Munian of TLC Worldwide and Candice Alexander of BIOVAC.
The 2026 Awards invite organisations of all sizes to showcase the strategies, initiatives and leadership approaches delivering meaningful impact for their people and their business.
Tell your story. Show your impact.
For organisations across Corporate South Africa, the Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate their people, showcase their achievements and demonstrate their impact.
Is your organisation setting the standard for the future of HR?
With entries closing soon, now is the time to put your organisation’s HR story in the spotlight.
ENTER THE 2026 FUTURE OF HR AWARDS:
Enter the 2026 Future of HR Awards
VIEW THE 2026 AWARDS CATEGORIES:
Explore the 2026 Future of HR Awards categories
Awards Gala: 15 October 2026
Venue: Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg
📧 To request a promo code that waives your entry fee, contact: quarnita.jumat@topco.co.za
