Asian Media Awards 2026: Nominations list
The nominees for the Asian Media Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising excellence across journalism, radio, television, digital media, marketing and live productions.
Returning to the Manchester Deansgate on Friday 30th October, the awards celebrate the achievements of journalists, broadcasters, content creators, performers and media organisations serving diverse audiences across the UK.
This year’s shortlist features representation from major media organisations including BBC, ITV, Sky News, The Guardian, The Daily Mail and The Times, alongside independent creators, production companies and community-focused outlets.
BizAsiaLive.com is once again nominated for the Best Website award.
Journalist of the Year category
▪ Ashna Hurynag (ITN ITV News & Good Morning Britain)
▪ Sejal Karia (ITN ITV News)
▪ Haroon Siddique (The Guardian)
▪ Hanisha Sethi
▪ Piriyanga Thirunimalan (The Daily Mail)
▪ Jabeen Waheed
Best Investigation
▪ Exposed: China’s Spycam Porn (BBC Eye)
▪ Married at First Sight Investigation by Noor Nanji (BBC Panorama)
▪ Murder of Norwegian Student Martine Vik Magnussen by Piriyanga Thirunimalan (The Daily Mail)
▪ Stolen Lives: Who Gave Our Children HIV? by Ghazal Abbasi (BBC Eye & BBC World Service)
▪ The Truth About Asylum Hotels by Rahil Sheikh (BBC Panorama)
▪ Undercover In Britain’s Immigration Black Market by Shanti Das and Balagopal Balakrishnan (The Times)
Regional Journalist of the Year
▪ Anil Kumar Bharath – Journalist, BBC Yorkshire
▪ Raj Kaur Bilkhu – Broadcast Journalist
▪ Kumail Jaffer – Local Democracy Reporter, My London
▪ Ravneet Nandra – Reporter, ITV Central
▪ Rajiv Popat – Broadcast Journalist, ITV Central
▪ Sharuna Sagar – Senior Journalist, BBC Look North
Outstanding Young Journalist
▪ Aakifah Gani
▪ Sarika Gandhi
▪ Amrit Singh Mann
▪ Aminah Rahman
▪ Jasmine Sandhar
The Sports Journalist of the Year
▪ Um-E-Aymen Babar
▪ Ayisha Gulati
▪ Amar Mehta
▪ Aatif Nawaz
▪ Aadam Patel
▪ Naz Premji
▪ Kal Sajad
Report of the Year
▪ 60 Years of South Asian Broadcasting at the BBC: What’s Changed?
Anil Kumar Bharath for BBC Yorkshire
▪ Air India Crash, Sole Survivor Interview
Navtej Johal for BBC Midlands
▪ Sky News Investigates UK’s Immigration System
Lisa Holland & Amrit Singh Mann for Sky News
▪ Stories of Colour
Sharuna Sagar for BBC Look North
▪ Two Women Who Survived Abuse by Convicted Sex Offender
Sabah Choudhry for 5 News
Radio Presenter of the Year
▪ Nadia Ali
▪ Rena Annobil
▪ Farzana Baduel
▪ Raj Ghai
▪ Hawa Kassam
▪ Aaron Paul
Best Radio Show
▪ Asian Network Trending
BBC Asian Network
▪ Brasco on Brekkie
Lyca Radio
▪ RadioWalli’s Rollercoaster
Lyca Radio
▪ South Asian Community Show
BBC Various
▪ The Ameet Channa Show
Sunrise Radio
▪ The Breakfast Show with Paul Shah
Sunrise Radio
▪ The Vallisa Show
BBC Asian Network
Radio Station of the Year
▪ ACR Asian Community Radio
▪ Asian Star Radio
▪ Lyca Radio
▪ Panjab Radio
▪ Sunrise Radio
▪ Sunrise Radio Yorkshire
Best TV Character
▪ Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif in Bait
▪ Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma in Emmerdale
▪ Tanisha Gorey as Asha Alahan in Coronation Street
▪ Nabhaan Rizwan as Noa in Film Club
▪ Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond in Karen Pirie
▪ Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati in EastEnders
Best Programme / Show
▪ Bait
Left Handed Films for Prime Video
▪ Saving Mum: Our Family Secret
Dancing Ledge Productions for Channel 4
▪ Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad?
Hello Mary for BBC Three
▪ The Rise of the Mixy
Ox-Boy Films
▪ Vengeance Murder on the Heath
Halcyon Heart Films for Channel 4
Creative Media Award
▪ Asian Women Run
Minreet Kaur for Asian Women Run CIC
▪ Commonwealth Symphony
Rekesh Chauhan BEM for The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust
Related to this
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Asian Media Awards 2025 winners announced
▪ Elephant Atta: From Home to Community
PR UK for Elephant Atta
▪ Listen to Your Aunties Campaign
GottaBe! Marketing for DKMS UK
▪ No Shame, Just Stories of Survival
Anisha Vasani Creates for The Fashion Brunch for International Women’s Day 2026
Media Agency of the Year
▪ Curzon PR
▪ Here&Now365
▪ PR By Naz
▪ PR UK
Best Stage Production
▪ A Thousand Splendid Suns
By Ursula Rani Sarma Based on the book by Khaled Hosseini; Originally co-produced by Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse
▪ Camdenwalla
Writer & Director, Jonny Khan, Associate Director & Producer Sam Edmunds.
▪ Frankie Goes to Bollywood
Directed by: Pravesh Kumar, Associate Director: Ameet Chana Rifco Theatre Company & BEAM Hertford
▪ I Dream of Theresa May
Written by Vivek Nityananda, Directed by Natasha Kathi-Chandra. Tara Theatre.
▪ Jerk Off
Written and Performed by Nadia P Manzoor
▪ Period Parrrty
By Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Directed by Gitika Buttoo. Kali theatre and Soho Theatre.
▪ Planet Omar
Adapted by Asif Khan and directed Sameena Hussain. Based on the by Zanib Mian. A Production by Leeds Playhouse, in association with the Unicorn Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
▪ Sweetmeats
Written by Karim Khan, Director by Natasha Kathi-Chandra. Tara Theatre
Outstanding Stage Performance
▪ Amar Chadha-Patel as AK in Foal
▪ Asif Khan as multiple characters in Porn Play
▪ Nadia P Manzoor as multiple characters in Jerk Off
▪ Ambika Mod as Ani in Porn Play
▪ Rehan Sheikh as Liaquat in Sweetmeats
▪ Mitesh Soni as Dennis in The Play That Goes Wrong
▪ Sonya Venugopal as Surinder in Surinderella
Best Live Event
▪ Arijit Singh Live at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
PR UK & TCO Group
▪ Bradford City Mela
Royale Festivals CIC
▪ Indian Army at the Palace Live
Historic Royal Palaces & Rifco Arts
▪ Leeds Road Festival
The Leap
▪ Sabri Sisters Live
Qawwali World
Best Blog / Website
▪ A Rosie World
▪ BizAsia Live
▪ DESIblitz
▪ Luxurist Magazine
Best Podcast
▪ Beard Before Wicket
Nubaid Haroon, Moeen Ali & Adil Rashid for No Ratings Studios
▪ The Dad Project
Naroop Jhooti
▪ The Shizzio Show
Shizzio
▪ The Story Isn’t Over: History From The Margins
Amar Singh for Ramblings of a Sikh
▪ Tommy’s Brownload
Tommy Sandhu, Kej & Sach for Fresh Naan Productions
Best Video Channel
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
Best Newcomer
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
Diversity In Media Award
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television, Film & Theatre Award
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
Media Personality of the Year
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
Outstanding Contribution to Media Award
▪ Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony
