Time to shine
Does one of your workmates merit recognition for standing out from the pack? Or have you done something to earn the admiration of your peers? With the nomination process for CA Rising Stars 2026 closing on 16 March, you have just a few weeks left to join our global talent hunt for the best CAs aged 35 or under. An in-person awards event in London for the top 35 means this year’s competition promises to be bigger and better than ever
Time to shine
Does one of your workmates merit recognition for standing out from the pack? Or have you done something to earn the admiration of your peers? With the nomination process for CA Rising Stars 2026 closing on 16 March, you have just a few weeks left to join our global talent hunt for the best CAs aged 35 or under. An in-person awards event in London for the top 35 means this year’s competition promises to be bigger and better than ever
CA Rising Stars 2025 winners, left–right: Laura Mason CA – Overall CA Rising Star 2025; Peter Cowan CA – Innovator
CA Rising Stars 2025 winners, left–right: Laura Mason CA – Overall CA Rising Star 2025; Peter Cowan CA – Innovator
Left–right: Naeema Joji CA – Changemaker; Michael Oates CA – Ethical Leader
Left–right: Naeema Joji CA – Changemaker; Michael Oates CA – Ethical Leader
The entry process for CA Rising Stars 2026 closes on 16 March at 23.59 GMT. You have until then to submit your nominations for the person or people you consider to be outstanding CAs, aged 35 or under.
This competition showcases and celebrates the achievements of the most talented and inspiring of the up-and-coming generation of CAs.
This year we have added one new category and the promise of an occasion to remember, with the award ceremony at the Oxo Tower on London’s South Bank in June. Here, all 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 will be invited – and the category winners and the overall Rising Star will be announced.
Cape Town, venue for the 2026 One Young World Summit
Cape Town, venue for the 2026 One Young World Summit
The overall winner will also represent ICAS and Chartered Accountants Worldwide at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, 3–6 November – the first time the summit has been held in Africa since 2013.
One Young World is the leading global forum for the next generation of leaders, attracting 2,200 delegates from more than 190 countries, alongside a host of globally famous and inspiring guest speakers. Previous years have witnessed keynote speeches from presidents, performers and Peace Prize winners, with everyone from Dr Jane Goodall and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Cher, among myriad others.
Our final 35 will reflect the diverse roles and careers of our younger members. They could be running their own practice or making their mark at one of the Big Four; they might be in industry, the public or third sectors. They could be setting the pace in the field of sport, retail, energy, hospitality, construction or any other field.
And they might be working anywhere in the world. Indeed, last year our top 35 included CAs working from Canada to Australia.
This year we’ve added a fourth category – Community and Social Value. This is for people who are doing brilliant work within their community (on or offline), volunteering their services to a charity or perhaps sharing their experience through mentorship.
How to stand out
Unsure who to nominate or why? It is worth looking at last year’s Top 35 and the winners to get a sense of what the judges are looking for. You can also find interviews with the 2025 overall winner, as well as with the winner of the Changemaker category to learn more about their individual journeys.
We’ve streamlined the entry process this year to make it as straightforward as possible. And don’t forget, you are free to nominate yourself and/or a colleague – so long as the nominee is a CA aged 35 or under. We also welcome nominations for people who featured in 2025, especially if you feel that person has done something in the past year that the judges should know about.
Nominations close on 16 March 2026 at 23.59 GMT
The entry process for CA Rising Stars 2026 closes on 16 March at 23.59 GMT. You have until then to submit your nominations for the person or people you consider to be outstanding CAs, aged 35 or under.
This competition showcases and celebrates the achievements of the most talented and inspiring of the up-and-coming generation of CAs.
This year we have added one new category and the promise of an occasion to remember, with the award ceremony at the Oxo Tower on London’s South Bank in June. Here, all 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 will be invited – and the category winners and the overall Rising Star will be announced.
Cape Town, venue for the 2026 One Young World Summit
Cape Town, venue for the 2026 One Young World Summit
The overall winner will also represent ICAS and Chartered Accountants Worldwide at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, 3–6 November – the first time the summit has been held in Africa since 2013.
One Young World is the leading global forum for the next generation of leaders, attracting 2,200 delegates from more than 190 countries, alongside a host of globally famous and inspiring guest speakers. Previous years have witnessed keynote speeches from presidents, performers and Peace Prize winners, with everyone from Dr Jane Goodall and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Cher, among myriad others.
Our final 35 will reflect the diverse roles and careers of our younger members. They could be running their own practice or making their mark at one of the Big Four; they might be in industry, the public or third sectors. They could be setting the pace in the field of sport, retail, energy, hospitality, construction or any other field.
And they might be working anywhere in the world. Indeed, last year our top 35 included CAs working from Canada to Australia.
This year we’ve added a fourth category – Community and Social Value. This is for people who are doing brilliant work within their community (on or offline), volunteering their services to a charity or perhaps sharing their experience through mentorship.
How to stand out
Unsure who to nominate or why? It is worth looking at last year’s Top 35 and the winners to get a sense of what the judges are looking for. You can also find interviews with the 2025 overall winner, as well as with the winner of the Changemaker category to learn more about their individual journeys.
We’ve streamlined the entry process this year to make it as straightforward as possible. And don’t forget, you are free to nominate yourself and/or a colleague – so long as the nominee is a CA aged 35 or under. We also welcome nominations for people who featured in 2025, especially if you feel that person has done something in the past year that the judges should know about.
Nominations close on 16 March 2026 at 23.59 GMT
Categories
Ethical Leaders
This category celebrates those who are excelling in areas of ethics and trust. All ICAS members take an oath of ethics at the point when they finish their training and become a CA, and we are looking for those who are playing a role in maintaining public trust in business or the profession.
Innovators in Technology
We are looking for young CAs at the cutting edge of innovation, whether that’s through the use of the new technologies transforming our profession and the business environment, or simply innovating in their chosen field by finding new solutions for tackling age-old problems.
Changemakers
This is for CAs who have helped to bring about a positive change in the areas of sustainability or equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). We are looking for those who influence and inspire others within their organisation to embrace new ideas and drive transformation.
Community and Social Value
This new category celebrates CAs who are making a meaningful, measurable impact in the communities they serve – whether in person or online, and at a local, national or global level. It celebrates those who use their professional skills to create a positive social impact beyond their core role, strengthening the profession’s reputation for serving the public interest and contributing to society.
For more information, including the nomination form, T&Cs and what to expect from the One Young World summit, visit the CA Rising Stars 2026 landing page
For more information, including the nomination form, T&Cs and what to expect from the One Young World summit, visit the CA Rising Stars 2026 landing page
Built with Shorthand