Entries are now open for the 2026 Medical Journalists’ Association Awards – the premier awards celebrating health and science journalism in the UK.
If you’ve produced work that deserves to be recognised, now is the time to put it forward. Winners will get their name in lights, a rare cash prize and a smugness that lasts until at least 2027.
To enter the awards now visit our awards entry page here.
Entries will close on the 10th June. There will be no extensions this year!
Entry is free for MJA members. Non-members can enter for a fee, but many journalists opt to join the MJA as you get the benefit of membership and attendance at our future events.
As always, thank you to our sponsors for their support. This year our principal sponsor is Novartis who recognise the value of good quality health journalism. Thanks also to ABPI, Roche and Blue Lozenge for their ongoing support.
There are 16 core categories plus the prestigious outstanding contribution award, to be revealed on the night.
The categories include case study, editor of the year, news story, specialist news story, broadcast feature, freelancer of the year, podcast of the year and many more.
Members of the MJA committee who enter the awards play no role in the decisions, judging or selection of categories.
The 48 judges are pulled from across the NHS and health journalism world meaning anyone shortlisted or lucky enough to be named winner can be sure their work is among the best of the best.
Why enter?
Our awards are one of the few opportunities left to recognise rigorous, evidence-based journalism on its own terms.
Behind every award entry lies countless hours of dedicated work, whether that’s careful scrutiny of complex data, questioning established practice, or shining a light on the issues that matter most to public health.
From pharmaceutical policy to NHS waiting lists, mental health provision to emerging treatments, our awards highlight how journalists reporting in health, medicine and science are holding decision-makers to account through storytelling that informs, challenges, and stays with you.
Winning an MJA means a boost for you and your work and is a powerful signal to editors that this specialism matters in their newsroom.
So don’t delay. Get your entries in early.
Any questions, please do get in touch at admin@mjauk.org
