ESTA Awards call for entries 2026

European heavy transport and lifting association ESTA has launched its call for entries for the 2026 ESTA Awards of Excellence.

Presented as the most prestigious awards event in the European abnormal transport, crane rental and heavy lifting industry, companies across Europe are now invited to submit their most innovative and challenging projects for consideration ahead of next year’s ceremony.

The nest iteration of the Awards will take place during ESTA’s Users Night 2026 on Thursday 16 April 2026, at the Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk, Netherlands. More than 500 industry professionals are expected to attend.

ESTA members, special members, affiliated companies and supporters can submit their applications via ESTA’s new online Awards Entry Platform:

https://estaeurope.eu/2026-award-entry-platform

Participants are encouraged to watch the tutorial available on the platform before beginning their submission. Entries may be submitted in English or in the applicant’s native language. The deadline for receipt of entries is 12 January 2026.

For questions or support, entrants can contact [email protected] or visit ESTA’s awards information page.

The 2024 ESTA Awards of Excellence evening event opened by Fabio Belli, the association’s president

About the Awards

Established as the premier annual industry gathering in Europe, the ESTA Awards of Excellence celebrate groundbreaking achievements in heavy lift, crane operations and specialized transport. Each year more than 50 submissions from across Europe compete in 10 award categories as follows:

• Cranes – telescopic, lifting capacity up to 120 tonnes (including knuckle boom cranes)
• Cranes – telescopic, lifting capacity above 120 tonnes
• Cranes – lattice boom
• Transport – trailer and load under 120 tonnes gross combination weight (GCW)
• Transport – trailer and load above 120 tonnes GCW
• Combined techniques
• SPMT (self propelled modular transporter)
• Safety
• Innovation and-or Development
• Training.

Participation is open to all ESTA Ordinary Member companies, Special Members, Affiliated Companies and Supporter companies.

In addition to the main categories, ESTA may present the Gino Koster Award, honouring exceptional lifetime contributions to the industry. Named after former ESTA General Secretary Gino Koster (1961–2009), the award reflects his passion for industry advancement, innovation and international collaboration.

Judging and finalists

An independent jury of experts from across Europe evaluate all submissions. A shortlist of finalists is announced some weeks before the awards ceremony, with winners revealed during the Users Night event.

All the 2024 ESTA Awards winners lined up on stage at the event in Paris, France. Photo: ESTA