The 2026 Leafies Awards celebrate the world’s finest teas
Image credit: The Leafies/UK Tea Academy
The Leafies, the UK’s only awards dedicated exclusively to tea, return to London the 16-17 January for a two-day celebration of global tea excellence at Fortnum & Mason.
Founded by the UK Tea Academy in 2022 in collaboration with Fortnum & Mason, The Leafies were created to champion integrity and excellence across the international tea industry. The teas are blind-tasted by leading tea experts, and the awards have become a respected benchmark of quality for tea producers and retailers worldwide.
The Leafies Awards & Tasting Event
Friday, 16 January
Invite & Ticket-holders only
The Leafies Award Presentation will take place on Friday 16 January 2026 at Fortnum & Mason, with winners announced during a live ceremony broadcast online for international audiences.
Award Presentation (Live & Online)
10.45am – 12.30pm
Live broadcast via Zoom (details on The Leafies website)
The Leafies Award-winning Tea Tasting Event
Saturday 17 January
Open to the public | Free entry
On Saturday 17 January, Fortnum & Mason will open its doors to the public for a free tasting of The Leafies award-winning teas from around the world.
10.00am – 4.00pm
No ticket required | Entry free
Celebrating Excellence in Tea
The Leafies 2025 received a record 411 tea entries, from 21 countries & 44 regions blind-tasted by an international panel of tea experts, resulting in:
• 21 Gold Awards
• 52 Highly Commended Awards
• 9 Special Awards
Winning an award at The Leafies is recognised across the industry as a mark of quality and distinction. Selected winning teas are showcased at the Fortnum & Mason Rare Tea Counter at the flagship Piccadilly store.
Launched by the UK Tea Academy, The Leafies are the only dedicated tea awards in the UK. Founded by tea experts, the awards celebrate outstanding teas from across the world, from small family-run gardens to established estates in both traditional and emerging tea regions. The Leafies recognise excellence across categories including Primary Production, New Regions, Experimental Teas, Blends, Herbals and Retail Teas.
For more information about the 2026 The Leafies, visit theleafies.co.uk.
