RTS reveals Technology Awards 2026 winners

The Royal Television Society Technology Centre has unveiled the winners on Thursday 22 October at De Vere Wokefield Estate, at an awards ceremony hosted by Zoe Kleinman, Technology and AI Editor, BBC.

The 2026 winners were:

Collaborative Team of the Year: On Air 2025, Media Talent Manifesto

Creative Innovation Project of the Year: Henley Royal Regatta, LIMITLESS Broadcast

Inspiring Leader of the Year: Jon Roberts, CTO, ITN

Product or Technology of the Year: Sky Live HDR and Sky Glass, Sky

Rising Star Award (Under 30): Reb Johnson, Techex

Sustainability Impact Award: Suzanne Dolan, D-Carbon Alliance

Unsung Hero Award: Lawrence Galkoff, Prison Radio Association

The judges also chose to give highly commended recognition to four submissions that they felt deserved particular acknowledgement:

Collaborative Team of the Year: We Job Box

Creative Innovation Project of the Year: The World's First Wheelchair Camera System, Caerus

Sustainability Impact Award: Sky Studios Elstree Sustainability Team, Sky

Product or Technology of the Year: Sofie: Reimagining TV Automation for BBC News, BBC News

Alongside the main award categories, three special awards were presented to individuals and organisations whose work has made a wider impact on the industry. 

An Emmy and Peabody-winning producer, Evan Shapiro received the Outstanding Contribution Award for his work helping the industry understand a rapidly changing media landscape through projects including the Media Universe Map, Media War and Peace, and the Media Odyssey podcast, as well as his work in education and widening opportunity.

Peter Taylor was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award following more than three decades with major British broadcasts. His career has included productions ranging from Glastonbury and the BBC Proms to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III, together with a longstanding commitment to mentoring and developing broadcast professionals.

The Special Recognition Award went to the team behind the creation of Newsmax Ukraine, a multiplatform news operation built in Kyiv through collaboration between Newsmax, Newsmax Ukraine, Broadcast Solutions, and nxtedition.

The project brought together the newsroom, studio, production, and distribution infrastructure required to serve audiences across television and digital platforms, delivered amid the extraordinary challenges of wartime.

Kim Rowell, Chair, RTS Technology Centre, said: “The standard of entries this year made the judging process incredibly difficult, and that was reflected not only in our winners but in the four entries our judges chose to highly commend.

“These awards are about recognising the people and teams doing exceptional work across our industry, whether they are leading major projects, developing new technology, supporting colleagues behind the scenes or helping to shape what comes next.

“Our three special awards also allowed us to recognise achievements that sit beyond the main categories. It was fantastic to bring the industry together and celebrate all of those recognised at this year’s awards.”

The Royal Television Society (RTS) recently appointed Sophie Jones as its CEO. Discover more here.