CPA launches 2026 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards

As part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s mission to strengthen parliamentary democracy through the promotion of good governance and sharing best practice, the Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards will again take place in 2026. 

The awards are open to nominees who are current Parliamentarians across the Commonwealth, with a main Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Award 2026, as well as three further awards for the following categories: Parliamentary Equality and Diversity Award; New Parliamentarian Award; and Parliamentarian Life-time Achievement Award. 

The awards aim to recognise and highlight inspirational and active Parliamentarians for excelling in their field, and the CPA will share these case studies from amongst its membership with a wider audience. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s unique membership includes national, state, provincial and territorial Legislatures, and the awards are open to Members of the CPA’s over 180 Parliaments. 

Last year, Hon. Malik Muhammad Khan, MPA, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab in Pakistan, was the recipient of the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Award, in recognition of his transformational leadership and commitment to transparency and legislative independence. 

Hon. Khurram Ijaz Chattha, MPA, (Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Pakistan), was announced as the recipient of the 2024 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Award, in recognition of his parliamentary service and promotion of good governance.

Above: CPA Chairperson Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP presenting the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Award to Hon. Malik Muhammad Khan, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Pakistan.

Above: Hon. Ted Arnott, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, being presented with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by current Speaker Hon. Donna Skelly.

The recipients of 2025’s other awards were Hon. Olivia Grange, MP and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica in the Parliamentary Equality and Diversity category; Hon. Ted Arnott, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada in the Lifetime Achievement category and Hon. James Evans MS, Senedd Cymru/the Welsh Parliament in the New Parliamentarian category. 

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said: 

“The Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards form one of the highlights of our annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Through these awards, the CPA recognises and highlights the invaluable contributions that Parliamentarians are making to their local communities and both nationally and internationally within the Commonwealth.” 

Nominees should be sitting Members of Parliament in a Commonwealth Legislature or have been a sitting Member of Parliament in a Commonwealth Legislature during the award period. The award can be made posthumously.

You can find previous Award Winners and relevant podcasts, pictures and articles here. The full criteria for the Awards can be found below. Send your nominations to hq.sec@cpahq.org by Friday 10 July 2026. The award recipients will be announced at the forthcoming 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2026.