We have some exciting news to share. The 2026 Tees Valley EDI Awards have a brilliant new home. This year’s ceremony will take place at Digital Life at Teesside University, in the heart of Middlesbrough, and we could not be more thrilled about it. A change of circumstances with our previous venue turned into a real opportunity, and it has led us somewhere we think is even better.
A new home: Digital Life at Teesside University
Anyone who has walked through Middlesbrough in the evening will know Digital Life at Teesside University. It is the striking, modern building whose façade glows with colour after dark, a genuine landmark on a town-centre campus. Holding the awards there places our celebration right where so much of the region’s energy, talent and ambition already lives. It is a fitting stage for a night that shines a light on the people making Tees Valley fairer and more inclusive.
A partnership we are proud of
We are delighted to be partnering with Teesside University to host the 2026 awards at their Digital Life facility. Teesside University has a deep commitment to opportunity, inclusion and changing lives across our region, values that sit at the very heart of the EDI Awards. Bringing the two together feels natural, and we are proud to work alongside an institution that does so much for the communities we celebrate. Our thanks go to everyone at the University who has helped make this happen.
What the move means for you
The new venue puts the awards in a central, accessible location in the middle of Middlesbrough, easy to reach from right across Tees Valley. Guests can look forward to a modern, memorable setting for the evening, in a building that already stands as a symbol of the region’s future. If you have joined us before, you will find the same warmth and celebration in a fresh and inspiring home.
A landmark for a landmark night
There is something special about celebrating the people who make Tees Valley better in a building that represents the region’s future. Digital Life at Teesside University is exactly that: a bold, forward-looking home for a night that is all about progress. Its central Middlesbrough setting means the awards sit right at the heart of the community they honour, surrounded by the students, businesses and residents who are shaping what comes next. For our finalists and guests, it promises an evening that feels as ambitious and as full of possibility as the achievements we are there to recognise. We think it is the perfect fit, and we cannot wait to see the room come alive.
Everything else stays the same
Only the venue has changed. The awards night is still Friday 16 October 2026, nominations are still open until 2 October 2026, and all fifteen awards across our eight categories remain exactly as they are. If you have already nominated someone, there is nothing you need to do. If you have not, there is still time.
Be part of the night at Digital Life
We cannot wait to welcome you to Digital Life at Teesside University this October. Nominate someone who deserves to be celebrated, book your place at the ceremony, or become a sponsor and help make the night special. You can also read more about the awards. Wherever you are in Tees Valley, we would love to see you there. Here is to a wonderful evening in a wonderful new home.
