Four charities are to benefit from the 37th annual edition of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards.

The event at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness attracted a record attendance of nearly 260 media representatives, politicians and heads of public and private organisations.

The ball is the only event that brings together industry colleagues from across a huge and dispersed region.

Journalists from Shetland to Argyll and from Moray to the Outer Hebrides serving print, broadcast and online media were all in attendance.

The event raised £3,400 which will benefit four local charities – Centred Scotland, Parkinson’s UK Scotland, Nairn Beach Wheelchairs and Held in Our Hearts.

The ball has now raised nearly £135,000 for good causes, with all the money staying in the Highlands and Islands.

Ball chairman John Ross said: “We are delighted the Press Ball continues to bring together colleagues from across the area where they are an essential part of local communities.

“Our charity fundraising is also a vital part of the occasion and we are extremely pleased to be able to contribute in a small way to some fantastic local causes.”

Principal sponsor of the evening was Diageo, with additional support from Statkraft, Chivas Brothers, the National Union of Journalists, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Hub North Scotland, Kane Partners, DP Digital Media, Highland Tourism CIC – incorporating Highland Tourism & Highland Renewables – Inverness Chamber of Commerce, Caledonian MacBrayne, SafeKab, Sarens PSG and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who attended the event, our sponsors for their valuable support and to all those who contributed to our charity fundraising activities.

Media colleagues are to honour one of their most revered figures at the industry’s premier event in the north of Scotland.

Mitch Reid, who died in July 2025, was a renowned journalist and communications manager and a long-time supporter of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards (HIPBMA).

Organisers of the event are to bestow Mitch with a posthumous special recognition award at the annual gathering on February 6 2026.

It will be presented to members of his family as part of the Highlands and Islands Media Awards ceremony.

Skye-born Mitch was as a reporter with the Press and Journal for 16 years, including a stint as fishing editor.

He then spent 27 years with the Scottish press office team at BT, becoming the public voice of the organisation and host at many media trips across the country, including at Hampden Park.

Under Mitch’s guidance, BT was one of the original sponsors of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball when it was revived in the 1980s and remained an important supporter of the event for more than 20 years.

Press Ball chairman John Ross, said: “Mitch was a wonderful friend and colleague and we were all deeply saddened by his passing.

“His support for the Press Ball in its early years after being revived was crucial to its development and is something that has never been forgotten.

“This special recognition award is a small token of our appreciation for all Mitch did for not just the press ball, but for the media industry generally.”

Tickets for the 2026 Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards have sold out and a waiting list is now operating.

The prestigious annual event will be held on Friday, February 6 in the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness.

Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets.

Anyone who would like to attend and has not yet booked tickets, please contact Press Ball chairman John Ross at johnrossinverness@outlook.com  or HIPBMA@protonmail.com and every effort will be made to accommodate you.

The wait is nearly over, as the premier media event in the north of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards, will be back in February next year.

Bookings are now being taken for the prestigious event which will be held on Friday February 6 2026 at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.

Tickets priced £35 for journalists and £60 for corporate guests, can be bought via the HIPBMA website www.pressball.info

HIPBMA is the only event that brings together the media industry across the vast and dispersed Highlands and Islands region.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• To ensure HIPBMA remains primarily a media occasion, only journalists and PR managers based in, or regularly working in, the Highlands and Islands may book tickets.
• Tables of 10 can be booked by individuals or organisations
• Corporate tables must consist primarily of PR managers and senior managers in regular contact with the media.
• Corporate tables MUST contain at least one H&I journalist, and preferably more.
• Ticket prices include a complimentary drink on arrival, three-course meal and a ceilidh featuring our resident band The Black Isle Peas.

VENUE

HIPBMA 2026 will be held in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

• The hotel is generously offering special HIPBMA B&B rates of £98 per night for Classic rooms and £118 for Luxury rooms ((both based on 2 guests sharing). Supplements will apply for other room types.
• The same rates apply for Saturday, February 7, while rates of £88 (Classic) and £108 (Luxury) apply for Thursday, February 5
• Guests are responsible for reserving their own rooms.
• Guests should contact Kingsmills Reservations directly during office hours, Monday to Saturday, on 01463 257100, quoting Press Ball. Unsold rooms will release 28 days prior to event.

CHARITIES

We will have our usual fundraising activities in support of four local charities. It would be much appreciated if you could contact us if you wish to donate prizes to our auction, raffle or tombola. 

CONTACT 

For all Highlands and Islands Press Ball enquiries contact

John Ross
Chairman, Highlands and Islands Press Ball
07933 138413
johnrossinverness@outlook.com or HIPBMA@protonmail.com

We are delighted that our fundraising efforts will support the work of four charities.

To date, we have donated more than £130,000 to a wide range of organisations, with 100 per cent of the money remaining in the Highlands and Islands.

To learn more about this year’s charities click the button below.