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Under new CEO Graham Wood, the expanded Awards signal a sharper focus on hospitality, service excellence and the full destination economy
The V&A Waterfront has launched its expanded 2026 Neighbourhood Awards, using the programme to recognise the wider business ecosystem that underpins one of Cape Town’s most important visitor, commercial and small-business economies.
The Awards expansion comes as the V&A Waterfront continues to demonstrate its economic significance. According to its latest economic contribution findings, the precinct supports more than 83,000 jobs across the country, and provides a platform for 433 small and medium-sized enterprises. The neighbourhood also attracts about 25 million visits annually, giving its businesses direct access to one of the country’s strongest visitor markets.
For the first time, the Awards will extend beyond Retail and Food & Beverage focus to include Hotels, Office and Commercial, Marine & Industrial, Attractions and Small Businesses. This reflects the Waterfront’s evolution into a destination shaped by hospitality, experiences, workspaces, enterprise, marine activity and leisure.
The expansion also gives newly appointed V&A Waterfront Chief Executive Officer Graham Wood an opportunity to set out a more hospitality-led direction for the precinct. With a career rooted in hotels and destination experience, Wood is positioning service culture, collaboration and operational excellence as central to the Waterfront’s next phase.
“The Waterfront is known for its views and location, but that is not what brings it to life,” says Wood. “What people remember is how they were welcomed, where they stayed, what they ate, what surprised them, and how our precinct made them feel.”
“That experience is not created by one operator or one attraction. It is created every day by hotels, restaurants, retailers, office tenants, attractions, marine businesses, entrepreneurs and service teams working together. That is why expanding these Awards matters.”
The expanded Awards translate this direction into a practical recognition platform. They will recognise responsible business, destination advocacy, service excellence, new and reimagined spaces, overall tenant performance and visitors’ experiences.
This year’s programme comprises six categories and 24 awards, with entries from tenant submissions and V&A Waterfront nominations to mystery shopper and diner assessments. Members of the public will also be invited to help decide the People’s Choice winners later in the programme, giving visitors, residents and customers a direct voice in recognising the places and experiences they value most.
Wood says the Awards should do more than celebrate good performance; they should set a clear standard for what the Waterfront wants to be known for.
“If we want to be the world’s most inspiring waterfront neighborhood, excellence cannot sit in our pockets,” says Wood. “It has to show up consistently – in service, design, food, hospitality, sustainability, safety and the way businesses contribute to Cape Town. These Awards are about recognising that standard.”
Eligible V&A Waterfront businesses are encouraged to submit their entries by 13 August 2026. The public will be invited to cast their votes during the People’s Choice phase, with winners announced at the V&A Neighbourhood Awards dinner on 14 October.
Businesses and members of the public can find details here.