Australian Marriage Celebrant Awards 2026
Put the work you’re proud of forward.
The ceremonies. The care. The ideas that made a difference. There is more than one way to do remarkable work as a celebrant — find the award that fits yours.
Final weeks to enter 30 September 2026 · 11:59pm Sydney time
Open to registered Australian marriage celebrants.
Members and non-members welcome, subject to category rules.
A place to begin
You don’t have to decide whether you deserve to win.
Choose the category that fits your work and let the judges assess it. The example entries show how to explain your approach with clarity and detail. A specific account of what you did, why you did it and the difference it made is a useful starting point.
Think about a ceremony you’re proud of.
A script that captured a couple’s voice. A meaningful ritual. Thoughtful adaptations that helped people participate. Start with the choices you made and the experience you created.
Think about the work around the ceremony.
The guidance that helped clients feel prepared. A better way of running your business. Your mentoring, ideas or community contribution. Explore the category that speaks to your work.
From an idea to an entry
Take it one step at a time.
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Choose your category
Find the category that fits your work. Read its eligibility, requirements and example entry before you start.
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Gather your examples
Check the category’s evidence and fee. Use relevant material you already have, with any permissions needed to share it.
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Start a draft
Create your free awards account or sign in. Follow the questions, save your progress and return when you are ready.
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Submit your entry
Review your answers, press Submit Entry and complete any required payment before entries close. A saved draft has not yet been entered.
Need help choosing a category or using the entry form? Ask the awards team.
Find the right fit
Which part of your work would you like to share?
Browse the categories below. Each one explains who it is for, what to prepare and how it will be assessed.
Excellence in Ceremony Writing Award
You have written a complete wedding ceremony script that reflects the couple through its language, story and flow.
Client Experience Excellence Award
Your guidance and communication help couples feel prepared and supported from enquiry to ceremony.
Emerging Celebrant of the Year Award
You are within your first two years of celebrancy practice and can show your early work and development.
Ritual Design & Innovation Award
You created or thoughtfully adapted a ritual that brought meaning to a ceremony.
Inclusive Ceremony Excellence Award
You adapted a wedding ceremony with care so the couple and participants could feel included and supported.
Presentation Excellence Award
You can show how your professional presentation suits different couples, ceremonies and settings.
Celebrant Digital Excellence Award
Your website helps couples understand your service, get to know you and take the next step.
Social Media Excellence Award
You use social media with a clear purpose and can show how your content connects with its audience.
Celebrant Business Innovation Award
You introduced a practical system or process that improved the way your celebrancy business works.
Ceremony Style & Expression Award
You carried a couple's cultural expression or creative vision through a ceremony with care and consistency.
Destination Ceremony Excellence Award
You delivered a ceremony where a distinctive Australian location helped shape the story and experience.
Celebrant in Action Award
You adapted your planning and delivery to a dynamic, demanding or unconventional ceremony setting.
Celebrant Mentor of the Year Award
You have provided sustained mentoring that helped other celebrants develop their confidence, skills or practice.
Community Impact Excellence Award
You contribute beyond ceremonies through community service, volunteering, advocacy or local initiatives.
Celebrancy Thought Leadership Award
Your ideas, education, research or advocacy have helped advance professional celebrancy practice.
AMC Leadership Excellence Award
You are an AMC member whose leadership or service has contributed to the organisation and its members.
Let us help you find a fit.
Try a shorter search, show all categories, or ask the awards team about the work you have in mind.
Choose one entry per category. The same ceremony or project can be entered in at most two categories. Check the entry terms and each category’s requirements.
Looking for Couples Choice? That is a separate nomination pathway for eligible AMC members.
A practical place to start
See an example. Find your starting point.
Entries are assessed by an independent judging panel on the quality and merit of the work in each category. Show the work, explain your decisions and give the judges the context they need.
Know the cost
Check fees before you begin.
Pay per category, or consider Standard AMC membership with eligible awards entries included. If you are entering two awards, compare the fees with membership and its wider benefits before paying.
Your next step
Choose the work. Start the draft.
You can save your progress and come back. Begin with the category that fits, then work through the questions one at a time.
Final weeks to enter 30 September 2026 · 11:59pm Sydney time
Start a draftAlready started? Sign in to continue your entry. For a hand with the process, contact the awards team.
AMC Awards questions
Clear answers about eligibility, judging, drafts, costs and the closing date.
What if I am not sure my work is good enough?
You do not have to decide whether you deserve to win before entering. Start with work you are proud of, find the category that fits, and explain what you did and why it mattered. Each standard entry category includes a fictional example to help you get started. If you are unsure which category fits, ask the awards team.
Who can enter the AMC Awards?
Registered Australian marriage celebrants can enter, whether they are AMC members or non-members. Individual categories may have additional published eligibility requirements.
How are entries judged?
Entries are assessed online by experienced judges using the assessment framework for each category. The panel includes AMC members and non-members. Recognition is based on the quality and merit of the work, not membership status or entry fees.
Are the AMC Awards pay-to-play?
No. Recognition is not tied to buying event tickets, tables or awards-night packages. Entry fees or member inclusions are disclosed before checkout and do not influence judging.
Can I put my own work forward?
Yes. The standard categories allow self-entry, subject to their eligibility and requirements. Some also allow nominations. AMC Leadership has member eligibility, Emerging Celebrant has a registration-period limit, and Couples Choice uses a separate profile nomination pathway. Check the category before starting.
Can I save my entry and return later?
Yes. Start an entry, save it as a draft and return as often as needed. A draft is not entered until you press Submit Entry.
When do 2026 entries close?
Entries close 30 September 2026 at 11:59 pm in the Australia/Sydney timezone. Submit before the deadline so your draft reaches the judging queue.