The Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) has opened nominations for the 2026 Franchise Industry Awards (FIAs), marking the second year of the national program recognising excellence across the franchising sector.
The awards recognise excellence and achievements by franchisees, franchisors, and the wider support network, with categories reflecting the breadth of the industry.
These include Franchisor of the Year across multiple sizes, Franchisee of the Year across single-unit and multi-unit operations, as well as specialist categories in health and wellbeing, retail and services.
Additional categories acknowledge innovation, governance, local area marketing and individual contribution to franchising.
Winners will be announced at the Gala Black-Tie Awards Night on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The event is expected to bring together leaders and emerging talent and will be followed by an all-invited after party.
How to nominate
Nominations for the 2026 FIAs must be submitted via the official FIA Nomination Portal: aunationalfranchisingawards.awardsplatform.com
Entrants can select their category, complete all required details, and upload supporting documentation directly within the platform.
Nominations are open from 8 November 2025 to 20 February 2026.
How to maximise your nomination
To assist applicants, the FCA recently hosted the ‘How to Maximise Your Nomination’ webinar, presented by FIA judge Lauren Clemett.
This session outlined what judges look for, how to structure submissions and common errors.
A full recording is available for viewing: youtube.com/watch?v=v0lN3cfFgHQ
The Franchise Forum
Running alongside the awards, the FCA will host the Franchise Forum, a full-day program of insights, learning, and strategic discussion designed to shape the future of franchising in Australia.
The Forum is open to both FCA members and non-members, with complimentary access granted to all FIA ticket holders.
A welcome networking event will be held the evening prior.
For more information, visit the FCA website.
