All nominees must accept their nomination and complete the submission form by 11:59pm, September 15, 2025. All businesses must be registered in Nova Scotia.

Nominees submit only once for the 2026 Halifax Business Awards (with one exception: Business Leader nominees may also apply in one other category for their organization).

If you are nominated in multiple categories, choose the one that most applies. 

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must have been in business less than two years as of August 31, 2025.  
  • Nominees cannot be an expansion of an existing business, name change or new location of an existing organization. 
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must be an independently owned and operated business with a total number of full-time employees not exceeding 25.  
  • Business must be owner operated for a minimum of two years, as of August 31, 2025. 
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  

EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active office in HRM.   
  • Nominees must be headquartered in Nova Scotia.  
  • A minimum of 40% of customers, partners or revenues must come from markets outside of Nova Scotia. 
  • Please note that Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must have introduced an innovative product, service, internal process, etc. on or before August 31, 2024 or be operating in a mode where innovation is built into the culture of the company.
  • Please note that Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.
  • Nominees should demonstrate a progressive perspective regarding diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active not-for-profit located and operating in HRM.
  • Minimum 51% of activities and funds must be raised and spent in HRM. 
  • Nominees must work to achieve social and/or cultural and economic outcomes, as well as to generate sufficient cash flow to continue to support their causes. 

Please note that Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM.  
  • Nominees must have been in business more than two years as of August 31, 2025.  
  • Nominees must have a total number of full-time employees exceeding 25.  
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category. 
  • Nominees must demonstrate a commitment to supporting diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion.
  • Nominees must have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people they serve.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active participation in a business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Please note: Individuals currently working for Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  
  • Nominees must demonstrate traits of inclusive leadership and a commitment to supporting diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.

Finalist Restrictions:

  • Finalists that have won in the last five years cannot return to that category
  • Finalists that have participated for two consecutive years cannot return in any category for 2 two years