Antrim crowned Ireland’s Best Kept Town 2026 in major all-island success story

Antrim Town Scoops Top Town Award in All Ireland Awards. Pictured (L-R): Trevor Edwards, President of the NI Amenity Council; Paul Mawhinney, Head of Parks at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Minister Dara Calleary, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (RoI); Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cllr Henry Cushinan and Doreen Muskett MBE, Chair of the NI Amenity Council.

Antrim has officially been named the best kept town anywhere on the island of Ireland after securing the overall title at the prestigious Ireland’s Best Kept Town Awards 2026.

The Co Antrim town emerged as the top winner from communities across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with judges praising the remarkable partnership between residents, businesses, volunteers and organisations that has transformed the appearance and atmosphere of the town.

In particular, adjudicators highlighted the strong co-operation between local businesses and the wider community, the active participation of local people and the clear “sense of pride” visible throughout the town.

The award places Antrim at the very top of an all-island competition involving some of Ireland’s most attractive and well-maintained towns and villages, making it one of the most significant civic accolades the town has ever received.

A victory built on community pride

The Ireland’s Best Kept Town Awards celebrate communities that invest time and effort into improving the places where people live, work and visit.

Judges assess everything from floral displays and environmental improvements to the upkeep of buildings, cleanliness, public spaces and the overall appearance of towns and villages.

However, organisers say the awards are about more than aesthetics alone.

Community participation, volunteer effort and civic pride all play a major role in determining the winners, with Antrim singled out for the way local people and businesses have worked together to enhance their town.

With category winners and finalists coming from counties including Donegal, Westmeath, Wicklow, Galway and across Northern Ireland, competition for the overall title was fierce.

Winning the all-island title therefore represents a major achievement not only for Antrim itself, but for the wider borough.

Years of work recognised on an all-Ireland stage

Antrim town named ‘The Best Kept Town’ in Ireland 2026 at All Ireland Awards. The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan accepts the award from Doreen Muskett MBE, Chair of the NI Amenity Council.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan, described the award as recognition of years of dedication and collaboration across the community.

He said:

“Antrim Town being recognised as Ireland’s Best Kept Town is an honour that reflects years of hard work and collaboration by people who care deeply about where they live and work.

“This prestigious all-Ireland award is a tremendous achievement for Antrim and a testament to the dedication, pride and community spirit shown by residents, businesses, volunteers, our Council staff and local organisations throughout the town.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in helping Antrim achieve this remarkable success.

“This award showcases our town at its very best and demonstrates what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared vision to enhance their town.”

An award with more than 30 years of history

Established in 1995, the annual competition forms part of the wider TidyTowns and Best Kept initiatives operating across Ireland.

The programme recognises communities that consistently improve and maintain their local environment through planting, landscaping, environmental stewardship and high standards of presentation and cleanliness.

This year’s awards ceremony took place on Wednesday at Riddel Hall in Stranmillis, Belfast.

The overall winner was decided through a partnership between Northern Ireland’s Best Kept Awards initiative and the Republic of Ireland’s TidyTowns movement.

Only five awards available across the island

Presenting the awards, Doreen Muskett MBE, Chair of the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, said Antrim’s achievement reflected the enormous effort invested by local people.

She said:

“I am overjoyed that Antrim has been named the overall winner at the Ireland’s Best Kept Town Awards 2026.

“The competition is designed to reward those who take great pride in their communities, and who work tirelessly to make their surroundings a nicer place to live, work and play in.

“The awards serve to recognise the town that has committed to making aesthetic and practical improvements to benefit the wider community.

“Each resident should be very proud of this incredible achievement.

“There are only five awards to be won, so to even be nominated for the all-Ireland is a massive achievement for our towns and villages.”

Recognition from across the island

Addressing guests at the ceremony, Minister Dara Calleary from the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht congratulated all finalists and winners involved in the competition.

He said:

“I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of the nominees and winners in the all-island Best Kept Town competition.

“All the groups nominated for these awards should be enormously proud of their achievements to date.

“The all-island Best Kept Town Competition recognises the huge community spirit and pride people have in their own communities right across this island.

“I applaud the efforts made by all of the volunteers and local communities in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and the Best Kept competition in Northern Ireland and wish all our community groups the very best in future competitions.”

A growing list of honours for Antrim Town

The latest success continues an impressive run of recognition for Antrim Town in recent years.

The town secured the title of Best Kept Large Town in Northern Ireland in 2025, having finished runner-up in the same category in 2024.

It also won the Best Kept Large Town title in 2023 and received the Ulster in Bloom Most Improved Award during the 2023 season.

The latest all-island title now represents the highest level of recognition available through the initiative and places Antrim among the leading examples of community-led civic pride across Ireland.

For residents, businesses and volunteers who have spent years investing time and effort into improving the town, the award serves as public recognition that those efforts are being noticed far beyond County Antrim.