The finalists of the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme have been revealed today, with the 24 shortlisted entrepreneurs selected from across the island of Ireland.
This year’s finalists represent a diverse range of sectors, including consumer, technology, health and construction, as well as varied growth stages and entrepreneurial stories that reflect the continued strength and resilience of the entrepreneurship landscape across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Collectively they employ more than 3,000 people, generate revenues of close to €1 billion.
The finalists have been shortlisted across three categories – Emerging, Established and International – with each category featuring eight entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional vision, leadership and impact within their industries and communities. Over the coming months, the 24 finalists will participate in the CEO Retreat, which this year takes place in Canada, designed to support strategic thinking and shared learning opportunities. They will engage in executive education, mentoring and networking with the EOY alumni community.
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Celebrating 29 Years of Entrepreneurship
The 2026 programme marks the 29th year of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ across the island of Ireland. Since its inception, the programme has recognised and supported more than 680 entrepreneurs, creating a powerful all island community known for its collaboration and peer to peer learning.
This year’s programme shines a light on the people driving the island’s innovation and growth at a time of heightened geopolitical instability and economic vulnerability. Across the world, businesses are navigating rapid change, supply chain disruption and shifting global markets, making the role of entrepreneurs more important than ever. The 2026 cohort reflects the individuals who continue to create opportunity, build resilience and shape the future despite these challenges.
Rob Heron, Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ in Northern Ireland, commented:
“Entrepreneurship in 2026 looks very different to even a few years ago. We are operating in a world shaped by geopolitical instability, rapid advances in AI and a level of economic uncertainty that demands creativity as much as resilience. Our finalists this year have not only adapted to this environment, but are shaping it.
“The 2026 cohort brings together entrepreneurs who are rethinking the possibilities of technology, from building standout consumer brands and advancing health and life‑sciences innovation, to delivering smarter construction and infrastructure solutions and creating entirely new business models from the ground up. They are creating jobs, solving complex challenges and opening doors to opportunities that did not exist before.
“The ingenuity and ambition we see across these 24 finalists reminds us why backing entrepreneurs matters now more than ever. They push boundaries, they take risks and they create the conditions for Northern Ireland to thrive in a volatile world. I am genuinely excited to welcome them into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community and to support their journeys in the months ahead.”
The 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ finalists are:
This year’s finalists have been shortlisted by an independent judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel who commented:
“This year’s judging process reminded us just how rapidly the world is changing for entrepreneurs and the environment they are operating in that has changed even in the past 18 months alone.
“Selecting just 24 finalists was an exceptionally difficult task. The entrepreneurs we met represent both long‑established sectors and fast‑emerging fields, but all of them are reshaping their industries with new ideas and new ways of working, and are turning challenges into opportunity.
“I am delighted to congratulate the 2026 finalists and welcome them into the EOY community. An invaluable experience now awaits them, one that will challenge, inspire and connect them with peers who are equally committed to shaping the island of Ireland’s future in an unpredictable world.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Partner Julius Baer, and Government partners Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
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