Rob Rinder to host UK IT Industry Awards 2026 in Battersea Park
rob rinder will host the UK IT Industry Awards 2026, taking over as presenter for a ceremony set for 11th November at Evolution London in Battersea Park. Entries close on Friday 19th June at 11:55pm BST, so anyone planning to submit still has a deadline to beat before the industry’s biggest night arrives.
Evolution London in November
The awards are returning for their 16th year this November, a marker that puts the event well beyond a one-off showcase and into the category of a fixed date on the UK technology calendar. The ceremony is described as the largest awards event in the UK IT industry calendar, which helps explain why the host announcement lands as operational news rather than decoration.
Rinder arrives with a profile that fits the format: he is described as a barrister, broadcaster, Sunday Times number one bestselling author and BAFTA winner. For a black-tie event built around a 3-course meal, live entertainment, a photo booth, DJ and dodgems, that mix points to an evening aimed at keeping the room moving as much as rewarding the winners.
What entrants face by Friday
Friday 19th June at 11:55pm BST is the only deadline that matters right now for teams still considering a place in the field. Once that window shuts, the ceremony becomes a November matter at Evolution London, with the shortlist and winners conversation likely to sharpen around the organisations already in the mix.
Previous winners have included Lloyds Banking Group, West Midlands Police, Superdrug, Deloitte, IBM, The Crown Prosecution Service, Bank of England, KPMG and Dunelm, which is a useful reminder of how broad the awards’ reach already is. That spread is part of the draw: the event is not built for one corner of technology, but for the people, projects and organisations shaping the sector across business and public life.
Rinder and the 2026 room
Rob Rinder hosting gives the 2026 edition a recognisable face without changing what entrants actually need to do this week: get submissions in on time, or miss the field entirely. For companies that want their work judged in a room this scale, the practical move is simple and immediate — finish the entry before the clock runs out, then wait for November to see whether their name returns on the night.
