Search begins for next Bold Woman as Veuve Clicquot opens 2026 award nominations

The search is on for the UK’s next generation of pioneering female leaders as Veuve Clicquot opens nominations for the 2026 Bold Woman Award.

Now in its 54th year, the award is the longest-running international accolade of its kind, inspired by Madame Clicquot, one of the world’s first female entrepreneurs. In 1805, aged just 27, she took over her husband’s champagne house at a time when women were excluded from most professions, transforming it into one of the world’s most iconic brands.

That legacy continues to shape the Bold Woman Award, which honours women who, like Madame Clicquot, “reinvent tradition, dare to innovate, champion female leadership and uphold the highest ethical standards”.

Two categories of recognition

The 2026 awards include two categories:
• The Bold Woman Award, open to women who have held senior leadership roles for more than three years across private, charitable and not-for-profit organisations.
• The Bold Future Award, which celebrates female founders leading businesses established fewer than five years ago.

Nominees in both categories must demonstrate clear evidence of positive social, ethical or environmental impact alongside their business achievements.

The 2025 Bold Woman Award was presented to Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, for her leadership in financial services and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion. The Bold Future Award went to Insiya Jafferjee, co-founder of Shellworks, recognised for developing the world’s first sustainable packaging material.

Past winners include Professor Sarah Gilbert, who led Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine development, and Anne Pitcher, former CEO of Selfridges.

Jean-Marc Gallot, CEO of Veuve Clicquot, said the awards continued to spotlight extraordinary women who embody Madame Clicquot’s fearless spirit:

“Every year, the talent and passion of the candidates blow us away. We are searching for inspiring women who dare to break the glass ceiling, so if you, or someone you know, captures that spirit, submit a nomination today.”

Judge and WB Directors CEO Fiona Hathorn added: “For too long, history credited progress almost entirely to men. The Bold Woman Award celebrates courageous women making their mark in business while inspiring the next generation.”

The deadline for entries is 26 September 2025, with winners revealed at a ceremony in London in 2026. Nominations can be submitted at boldopendatabase.com/en/bold-woman-award.

Winners will also feature in the Bold Open Database, the world’s first global open-access platform showcasing female entrepreneurs and leaders, designed to provide visibility for women founders and valuable data for investors, journalists and policymakers.