Submissions open for 2026 Australia Day Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards! 

Bathurst Mayor, Cr Robert Taylor, remarked that nominations for all awards open today, including submissions for a brand-new award for 2026, the ‘Youth Community Service Award’. 

“A new year is fast approaching, which means we are once again on the lookout for the next recipients of our highly regarded Australia Day Awards.  

“This coming January we will recognise Bathurst’s Citizen of the Year, our Living Legends and announce the Youth Arts Awards. We will also be presenting a new award for 2026, the Youth Community Service Award. If you know of a 12 to 18-year-old living in the Bathurst Region who has been an exemplary role model and contributed significantly to the community through various initiatives or projects, please consider putting their name forward. Nominations for these awards will close Friday 7 November 2025. 

“We will also be awarding the Event of the Year across three categories, including Destination Event of the Year, Community Event of the Year, as well as the most outstanding New Event of the Year. Each Event of the Year winner will receive an advertising package courtesy of 2bs B-Rock and Council. Nominations for these awards can be made up until Friday 9 January 2026,” said Mayor Taylor. 

Also returning in 2026 will be the Jo Ross Memorial Award and the Heritage Trust Award. 

For more information on these awards, the nomination criteria and timelines, please visit Council’s website, here: Awards & Recognition Bathurst Regional Council 

Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer  

P: 02 6333 6179 M: 0448 685 340 E: genevieve.green@bathurst.nsw.gov.au