Great British Market Awards 2026 were unveiled at the NABMA One Day Conference, marking the sector’s most extensive nomination tally to date and highlighting the breadth of activity across UK trading venues.
Top honors go to revitalised historic hubs
Barnsley Market captured the flagship prize after a £3.4 million upgrade turned the 800‑year‑old site into a lively food hall and incubator for start‑ups. The venue now boasts high occupancy and strong trader support, positioning it as a national point of interest.
The transformation was driven by close collaboration between local authorities, market officers and regeneration specialists, creating a flexible space that accommodates pop‑up events, culinary workshops and community gatherings. By integrating modern design with the market’s historic fabric, the project has become a template for how heritage sites can be re‑imagined for contemporary use.
In Stratford‑upon‑Avon, the Waterside Upmarket earned recognition for drawing roughly 15,000 visitors each week, thanks to a flexible trader policy and a long‑standing presence of over three decades.
Its adaptable trader policy allows a mix of traditional stalls and innovative concepts, while the market’s commitment to national campaigns has amplified its profile beyond the local area. The consistency of operation every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday has forged a reliable rhythm that supports both vendors and the town’s tourism economy.
Community‑focused and innovative venues celebrated
The awards highlighted several community‑driven sites. The Kendal Farmers’ Market was praised for its producer‑only model, educational links, and role as a launchpad for sustainable businesses.
By restricting stalls to genuine producers, the market safeguards product authenticity and encourages direct farmer‑to‑consumer relationships. Partnerships with schools and training programmes give young people hands‑on experience in food production, reinforcing the market’s educational mission and supporting the next generation of sustainable entrepreneurs.
For best community or local council venue, Shrewsbury Market stood out with strong partnerships and a reputation as a business incubator.
Shrewsbury Market continues to evolve while retaining its unique identity. With strong partnerships and a reputation as a business incubator, it remains the beating heart of its town centre. Regarded as one of the leading food and drink festivals in the UK and internationally, this event attracts over half a million visitors across four days. Curated by the Markets Team, it sets a national benchmark for scale, quality and social value.
A joint award for best attraction went to the Smithfield Market Christmas Eve Meat Auction and the Columbia Road Flower Market, each noted for historic appeal and drawing visitors from abroad.
The Smithfield auction blends half‑a‑century of tradition with theatrical presentation, turning a commercial event into a cultural spectacle that resonates with both locals and tourists. Columbia Road, meanwhile, has cultivated a reputation as a global destination, where the weekly floral display becomes a lively showcase of horticultural artistry that supports a diverse community of traders.
Other notable winners were New Covent Garden Market, home to 180 businesses with a turnover near £1 billion.
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With eight centuries of market heritage, the venue balances historic significance with forward‑looking redevelopment plans that aim to make it both the country’s oldest and newest wholesale hub by the late 2020s. The ongoing investment shows its role as a critical supply chain node for food and flower distribution across the nation.
The newly opened Darley Street Market is a modern food destination within a £32 million regeneration scheme.
Designed to operate seven days a week, the market combines contemporary architecture with traditional market values, creating a lively public area that attracts diners, cultural events and community activities. Its placement at the heart of a major urban renewal project has made it a focal point for city‑centre revitalisation.
The public’s favorite, voted in a nationwide poll, was South Molton Pannier Market, celebrated for full trader occupancy, charitable involvement and steady footfall on its twice‑weekly days.
Beyond its commercial success, the market channels a portion of its revenue into local charities, reinforcing social cohesion and demonstrating how regular market days can serve as engines of community philanthropy. The consistent flow of visitors supports a stable trading environment that underpins the town’s broader economic health.
In the middle of the ceremony, organizers reflected that the surge in nominations mirrored a broader trend of local economies leaning on public trading spaces for regeneration, much as they did during the post‑2008 recovery period when similar awards first emphasized community impact.
This pattern illustrates how markets have become strategic assets in municipal planning, offering adaptable spaces that can respond to economic shifts, support small‑business creation and enhance the vibrancy of town centres. Their role in post‑crisis revitalisation highlights the sector’s resilience and capacity for innovation.
NABMA also conferred an Honorary Life Membership on Colin Wolstenholme, acknowledging his four‑decade career that includes steering the Darley Street project and contributing to national research and policy work.
His extensive experience across local and national market management has informed best‑practice guidelines, shaped policy discussions and supported collaborative research initiatives that benefit the entire sector. Wolstenholme’s leadership on the Darley Street development exemplifies how seasoned expertise can translate into tangible community benefits.
Support was widely acknowledged.
The event thanked the National Market Traders Federation, chief executive Joe Harrison, and headline sponsor Market Place for their support. It closed by congratulating all winners, nominees and the broader trading‑venue community.