Finalists announced for 2026 Franchise Awards

This year there were some changes to the categories available to enter in the prestigious New Zealand Franchise Awards, with the new awards Franchise System Champion of the Year and Small Franchise System of the Year attracting strong competition. In 2026 there are 16 brands represented across 15 award categories, with 36 individual category finalists.

The 2026 finalist brands in alphabetical order are as follows: 

• Aramex 
• Bakers Delight
• BiForm
• CrestClean
• Dream Doors
• Exceed
• Just Cuts
• Laser Franchise Group
• LJ's 
• Pets in the City
• Poolwerx
• Quest Mt Maunganui
• Red LBP
• Rodney Wayne
• Top 10 Holiday Parks
• Wynn Williams

The New Zealand Franchise Awards were first presented in 1995 and are designed to identify and celebrate outstanding franchise systems, franchisees, franchise support team members and specialist suppliers and advisors to the franchise sector. The winners of the 2026 Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner in Auckland on Saturday 14 November. 

See all the major winners dating back to 1995 in Developing Excellence - our history of the New Zealand Franchise Awards.