Does your IC work deserve a European stage?

The 2026 FEIEA Grand Prix Awards are now live, inviting internal communicators across Europe to enter the work that has shaped culture, built trust, supported change and made organisations better places to work.

For more than 65 years, the FEIEA Grand Prix Awards have recognised excellence in internal communication across Europe. But the value of the awards goes far beyond a trophy. They offer a rare opportunity to see how great internal communication performs across different cultures, languages, markets and organisational realities.

As Kathleen De Smedt, Director of Corporate Communication at Belgium’s FrieslandCampina and FEIEA Grand Prix judge, puts it:

“Pan-European awards do something national awards simply can’t, they create a shared benchmark across cultures, markets, languages, and organisational realities.”

In a profession that is often expected to deliver clarity in complexity, connection in change and trust in uncertain times, benchmarking matters. The FEIEA Grand Prix Awards create space for internal communicators to learn from each other, challenge their thinking and show the strategic value of their work at a European level.

What makes a winning entry?

Last year’s judges were clear: winning entries are not just well-delivered. They are thoughtful, brave and measurable.

The strongest submissions showed a clear understanding of the problem they were solving, the people they needed to reach and the change they wanted to create. Judges looked for campaigns and channels that were rooted in strategy, brought fresh thinking and proved their impact.

For Kathleen De Smedt, three things stood out in winning entries: originality, outcomes and craft.

“I want to be surprised. A beautifully executed campaign isn’t automatically award-worthy. The work that stands out brings a fresh insight, a new mechanism, or a brave choice.”

That innovation can take many forms. It might be a creative idea, a new approach to dialogue, the smart use of digital channels or AI, or a strategically clever way to mobilise people. But creativity alone is not enough. Judges also want to see what changed because of the communication.

Reach, views and attendance still matter, but they are only part of the story. The strongest entries go further, showing behaviour shifts, stronger advocacy, better adoption, improved onboarding, safer working practices or other outcomes that matter to the organisation.

Zoe Shaughnessy, Head of Internal Communications and Engagement at the UK’s Alzheimer’s Society, also highlighted the importance of measurement:

“I was really interested in measurement of impact and the creative ways in which applicants explored this linked to strategy and culture. Looking at both outputs but more importantly outcomes.”

For Zoe, the best entries also showed foresight: not only what had already been measured, but what teams planned to track next. That longer-term view helps show that internal communication is not a one-off activity, but a discipline that supports lasting organisational change.

Why enter?

Because great internal communication deserves to travel.

Across Europe, IC teams are helping people understand strategy, navigate transformation, connect with purpose, adopt new tools, feel heard and take action. Much of that work happens behind the scenes. The FEIEA Grand Prix Awards bring it into view.

They are also a chance to learn. As Zoe says:

“Internal Communications is a global discipline. Sharing insights, creativity and campaigns across geographical borders is insightful and helps progress and elevate the discipline as a whole.”

For younger professionals, emerging teams and experienced IC leaders alike, entering the awards is an opportunity to pause, reflect and tell the story of the work with clarity. What was the challenge? What did you do differently? What impact did it have? What can others learn from it?

Advice from the judges

If you are thinking about entering this year, the message from judges is simple: start early, read the guidelines carefully and build measurement into your story from the beginning.

Zoe’s advice to future entrants is direct:

“Apply! Devour the guidelines. Start early. Factor awards into your comms planning process.”

Kathleen’s advice is equally clear:

“If you can combine a surprising idea, rigorous outcomes, and excellent craft, you won’t just have a strong entry. You’ll have work that moves the profession forward.”

The closing date for this year’s Awards is 16 October.

If your work has helped people feel informed, involved, inspired or ready for change, this is your moment to put it forward.

Enter the FEIEA Grand Prix Awards 2026 and let Europe see what great internal communication can do – download the entry pack here FEIEA 2026 GP entry pack