Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) has been named “Venue of the Year (Less than 20,000 sqm)” at the AEO Excellence Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of the events industry”, marking a significant milestone for the North Yorkshire venue.

The win represents HCC’s second major industry award in the past 12 months, after taking home the title of “Most Innovative and High-Tech Venue” at Event Technology Awards in November 2025.

The Association of Event Organisers is one of the most prominent organisations in the event industry in the UK and beyond, with its members being responsible for more than 2,000 business events a year, more than 1,000 of them taking place in the UK. Recognised as one of the leading accolades in the events industry, the AEO Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across venues, organisers and suppliers in the UK and beyond. Among those shortlisted for “Venue of the Year (Less than 20,000 sqm) are Business Design Centre in London, Royal Armouries, ICC Belfast and Liverpool Experience Campus.

The panel of judges describe HCC as “a fantastic venue, with a focus on accessibility, sustainability, hospitality and a strong team culture that comes through, not just facing challenges but working hard to overcome them, creating a real asset to the region and its clients.”

The award comes at an exciting time for the venue, with a programme of site improvements currently underway. This includes the highly anticipated transformation of Studio 2 into flexible conference breakout space scheduled to open next year. With these developments progressing, HCC is well positioned to strengthen its appeal to conference and exhibition organisers seeking a versatile, well-connected venue outside London.

Michael Constantine, Head of Operations at Harrogate Convention Centre, says: “We’re incredibly proud to bring home this prestigious award. It’s a testament to the ambition and hard work of our team and would not have been possible without the support of our partners and North Yorkshire Council. With improvement works taking shape across the site – including the upcoming Studio 2 breakout space – we’re entering an exciting chapter of growth. This recognition helps put Harrogate and North Yorkshire firmly on the map as a destination for world-class events and Team HCC will continue to do our best in driving business tourism in the region.”