Top Awards 2026 Preview 14 November 2026 ǁǁǁ͘ ĂŌĞƌŵĂƌŬĞƚŽŶůŝŶĞ͘ ŶĞƚ The final showdown is coming – and you’re invited Some of the UK’s best technicians, apprentices and garages are preparing for one final challenge as the Top Awards 2026 heads towards the finishing line on Saturday 14 November at Delphi Academy in Warwick. Anyone who’s made it this far has already had plenty to contend with. Across the various categories, entrants have had to prove they’ve got what it takes, whether that’s diagnosing tricky vehicle faults, demonstrating their technical knowledge or showing the judges how they run a successful garage business. The Top Technician finalists, for example, have already made it through three online qualifying rounds and a demanding live semi-final, where ten of the country’s best technicians tackled a series of timed diagnostic challenges. Just five are left in the running for the title. Meanwhile, the Top Apprentice and Top Garage competitions have been putting the next generation of technicians and some of the UK’s leading garage businesses through their paces. For those who have made it through, the Finals will bring a fresh set of challenges. The Top Technician finalists will face 50-minute live diagnostic challenges, where they’ll need to work through complex vehicle faults and demonstrate how they go about finding the cause, all against the clock. The Top Apprentice finalists will also be getting hands-on, tackling practical mechanical, electrical and diagnostic challenges designed to test what they’ve learned and how they put it into practice. The Top Garage finalists will face a different challenge, presenting their businesses to a panel of judges and answering questions about everything from customer service and staff development to how they manage their day-to-day operations. Everything now comes down to 14 November, when the day will end with the winners announced that evening at the Top Awards Gala Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Coventry. There’s also a big change to the event this year. For the first time, the Finals are opening their doors to the wider aftermarket, giving anyone working in the trade the chance to come along and see what it’s all about. If you’ve ever thought about entering the competition yourself, this is a great opportunity to see what you’re letting yourself in for. Or you might just fancy watching some of the country’s best technicians at work and catching up with others in the trade. You’ll be able to watch the competitions as they happen, meet the people taking part and check out some of the latest tools, equipment and technologies being brought along by the event’s industry partners. Entry during the day is free, so if you’re within travelling distance of Warwick, why not come along? For the finalists, though, there’s still one more hurdle to clear. So, who’s made it through, and what will they be facing on Finals Day? Read on to find out.
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