Antrim named the Best Kept Town in Ireland 2026
Antrim has been named the Best Kept Town across the island of Ireland at the prestigious Ireland’s Best Kept Town Awards 2026.
Judges were particularly impressed with the co-operation between local businesses and the community to bring about vast improvements in the town, noting the active participation by all residents and the “sense of pride” they all have.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan, 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."
With shortlisted category winners from across the island, from Donegal, Westmeath, Wicklow and Galway to the Northern Ireland counties, this is a huge accolade for the Co. Antrim town.
This annual celebration, established in 1995, is part of the TidyTowns and Best Kept initiatives. The awards recognise towns and villages across Ireland that consistently take pride in their surroundings by enhancing their natural environment with flowers and foliage, maintaining the appearance of buildings and ensuring general cleanliness.
The awards were presented at Riddel Hall, Stranmillis, Belfast during a ceremony on Wednesday, where the Northern Ireland initiative ‘Best Kept Awards’ partnered with its southern counterpart ‘TidyTowns’ to decide on the victor.
Doreen Muskett MBE, Chair of the NI Amenity Council attended the event and presented prizes to the winners commented: “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.”
Addressing guests at the ceremony, Minister Dara Calleary from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (RoI) 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.”
In addition to Ireland's Best Kept Town 2026 overall winner, Antrim Town has received notable awards in recent years:
Best Kept Large Town (Northern Ireland) 2025,
Runner-up, Best Kept Large Town (Northern Ireland) 2024,
Best Kept Large Town (Northern Ireland) 2023, and
Ulster in Bloom – Most Improved Award (2023 season).