Tidy Towns Competition & Special Awards
Tuesday, 30 Jun 2026
12:00am – 12:00am
Closing Date for the Main Competition: Monday 11th May
Closing Date for Special Awards Usually early June
In place since 1958, the competition, administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu, continues to be one of the most recognised sustainable, environmental and community initiatives in the country.
There are almost 1,000 active TidyTowns groups, and last year saw a record 929 entries to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This saw over 30,000 volunteers giving up over 1 million hours of their time, all year round, to come together to make our communities cleaner, brighter and more vibrant places.
Its success benefits towns, villages and communities all over Ireland in real and meaningful ways, making them more attractive and sustainable places for everyone.
At the launch of the 2026 Tidy Towns Competiton Minister Calleary said:
“TidyTowns groups have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the government’s objective to ensure towns are sustainable, resilient and thriving hubs of commercial and social activity.
“I would encourage everyone to reach out to their local group and volunteer, you will be surprised at the benefits that can accrue to you and to your wider community.
“I would like to say a special thank you to our national sponsor, Supervalu, now in their 36th year of sponsoring the competition. SuperValu have been wonderful partners on this journey and I look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years.”
Also speaking at the launch today, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, said:
“The launch of SuperValu TidyTowns competition is always an exciting time for committees and volunteers nationwide. The longevity and diversity of the programme is remarkable, with 70% of committees active for more than a decade, and a quarter of all volunteers are under 45. It’s fantastic to see volunteers of all ages and backgrounds come together with the aim of enhancing their communities, and we can’t wait to see their hard work pay off throughout the year.
The Competition contains an impressive array of sponsored Special Awards including:
- Greenways & Active Travel
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Climate Action
- Tree Project
- Gum Litter Taskforce
- Young Persons in Tidy Towns
- Town Centre First
- Supervalu Inclusive Communities
- Leave No Trace
- Waters & Communities
- All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – Local Authority Pollinator Award
- EPA Circular Economy
- Tiny Tidy Towns School
- Dementia Inclusive Community Award
- The ‘Dark Sky Ireland’ Special Award
- The Gaeltacht Award
- The Island Award
Full details of the competition are available on www.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie