Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Award Winners 2026

Winners of the Aberdeen City & Shire Thistle Awards 2026 were announced at a ceremony at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday 18 September. 

Businesses from across the region, representing accommodation, visitor attractions, events, food and drink and more, celebrated with colleagues and friends as the 2026 regional winners were announced. 

The Scottish Thistle Awards is an annual celebration of the very best in tourism and events, recognising excellence, collaboration and innovation within on of the country's most important and biggest growing sectors. The Aberdeen City & Shire Awards ceremony is one of five regional finals, with the winners of each going on to compete at the national final in November.

Read on for the Aberdeen City and Shire winners.

Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle winners 2026. 

The Clunie Dining Room at the Fife Arms in Braemar

Best Accommodation or Unique Stay

Winner: Logie Newton Lodges

Best Bar or Pub

Winner: The Craftsman Company

Best Eating Experience

Winner: The Clunie Dining Room, Fife Arms

Best Hotel Experience

Winner: Maryculter House

Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience

Winner: Farm Stop

Best Self-Catering or Exclusive Use

Winner: Logie Newton Lodges

Best Visitor Attraction

Winner: Glen Garioch Distillery

Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival

Winner: Tall Ships 2026

Tall Ships Aberdeen 2026

TwinPeakes Fly Fishing

Climate Action Award

Winner: Birks Pond, Castle Fraser NTS

Inclusion Award

Winner: Tall Ships 2026

Best Community Tourism or Events Initiative

Winner: Welcome to Aberdeenshire

Innovation Award

Winner: TwinPeakes Fly Fishing

Employer of the Year

Winner: Hilton and Aloft Aberdeen TECA Hotels

Individual of the Year

Winner: Alan Findlater - Luxe Scotland

Rising Star Award

Winner: Stuart Rattray - Glen Tanar Estate

Alan Findlater accepting his award for Individual of the Year