BCS Annual Awards
Annual sponsored awards. Winners are announced at the BCS Annual Conference
In association with our sponsors, we present a series of awards for excellence in cartography that are open to everyone. Entries are encouraged from those engaged in all aspects of mapping - practical, theoretical, commercial and academic - using traditional or innovative techniques and research.
The awards are presented at our Annual Conference. If you have any queries, contact Jim Goldsmith our Awards Officer
New Award entry forms and rules have been updated for 2027. Award and winners entries for previous years from 2016 are available in the GeoViz Resource Centre.
The closing date for the BCS Awards is 13th June 2027 and the winners will be announced at the BCS Annual Conference.
Peter Jolly Award
Best Map / Data Visualisation
Open exclusively to BCS members for any single map or geographic data visualisation in printed or digital form.
This award will be judged by BCS members. The winner will be the entry that receives the most votes. Each BCS member will be allocated one vote and in the event of a tie the BCS President will have the deciding vote
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
Stanfords Award
Best entry for Printed Mapping
Open to any mapping in the printed form, whether it be a poster, folded sheet map, atlas, or page from a book, etc. The Stanfords Award comprises a trophy and a certificate, and is run with the support of Stanfords map and travel book store.
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
The Collins Bartholomew Award for Thematic Mapping & Infographics
Best entry for Thematic Mapping & Infographics
Presented for originality and excellence in the field of thematic cartography with emphasis on effective communication of the intended theme or themes. The Collins Bartholomew Award comprises a trophy, and a certificate, and is run with the support of HarperCollins.
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
Ordnance Survey Student Award
Qualifying entries can be from individuals doing full or part time education courses/studies.
Ordnance Survey (OS) have provided the British Cartographic Society (BCS) with an award to encourage the innovative use and visualisation of geographic data.
The award comprises a £100 cash prize, a one-year subscription to the OS Maps web and mobile application, a trophy and a certificate both to be retained by the winner.
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
The Garsdale Design Award
The annual 3D Cartography Award Sponsored by GD3D® the 3D geospatial brand from Garsdale Design
An exciting award open to anyone creating interesting, informative, exciting 3D cartography (real or imagined) using any technique or medium!
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
Digital Mapping Award
The BCS Award for digital mapping products
This award is for mapping designed specifically for use in a digital environment, including, for example, digital mapping that has been enhanced using software, GIS projects, interactive web mapping and PowerPoint presentations.
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
The Ian Mumford Award
For university and college students
This award is intended to encourage and recognise excellence in original cartographic research undertaken by university or college students who have been engaged in full or part-time study.
The closing date for this award is 13th June 2027
Children's Map Competition
Supported by Dennis Maps
The BCS Children’s Map Competition is supported by Dennis Maps – one of the world’s leading map printers. The competition aims to encourage children’s creativity in mapmaking through their cartographic representation of a particular theme. The awards are given every year and comprise a prize and certificate for the overall winner in each age group.
The theme for the 2027 competition is “Maps in Everyday Life” and Winners maybe put submitted to the ICA Barbara Petchenik Award.
The closing date for this award is 30th March 2027