Estonia’s top company to be named at Saturday gala

Estonia’s Company of the Year 2026 will be announced at an awards gala in Tallinn on Saturday, ERR reports. The event, which recognises the country’s outstanding businesses, will be streamed on ERR’s website from 5 p.m.

The gala will be hosted by actors Evelin Võigemast and Kaspar Velberg. Musical performers include the mixed choir Head ööd, Vend, the Koikson–Tärn–Mölder trio, folk-jazz group Paabel and Eik.

The awards recognise businesses for their contributions to Estonia’s economy, and include a prize for Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The companies named in the award categories are:

Exporter of the Year: Harju Elekter sells its products from Northern Europe to Australia, Singapore and the United States. Its data-centre energy solutions are among its fastest-growing business areas.

Innovator of the Year: 1oT provides global connectivity for Internet of Things devices. Its technology connects more than four million devices in over 170 countries.

Tourism Promoter of the Year: The Black Nights Film Festival, known as PÖFF, is one of 16 A-category film festivals worldwide. It brings international audiences to Estonia in November, usually a low season for tourism.

Future Creator of the Year: ALPA Kids develops digital learning games for children in their native languages, supporting language learning and school preparation. Its app has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times, and its products are used in over 170 countries.

Investor of the Year: NPM Narva established Europe’s first rare-earth permanent magnet factory in Narva. The investment by Canadian group Neo Performance Materials is creating a new industrial sector in Estonia and helping reduce Europe’s dependence on magnet supplies from China.

Employer of the Year: Nordea Bank Abp’s Estonian branch employs more than 1,000 people in Estonia from 50 nationalities. It supports staff development through training programmes, an artificial intelligence-based career platform and international opportunities.

Industrial Innovator of the Year: ETS NORD, Estonia’s largest developer and manufacturer of ventilation solutions, has invested more than 10 million euros in production automation and digitalisation over the past three years. Last year, it opened a new development and testing centre in Tallinn.

Promoter of Entrepreneurship of the Year: Vibe Code Atelier helps people test new business ideas and find partners using artificial intelligence. An initiative it created has grown into a community of nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs, developers and technology enthusiasts.

Most Competitive Industrial and Energy Company of the Year: Utilitas, Estonia’s largest district heating and cooling provider, supplies heat to more than 400,000 people. Renewable energy accounted for 79 percent of its output last year.

Most Competitive Trading Company of the Year: Tavid is one of Europe’s largest sellers of investment gold and silver, operating in 13 European countries. Its group’s sales revenue rose 93 percent last year to 1.56 billion euros.

Most Competitive Business Services Company of the Year: HEVI Optronics develops and manufactures high-tech surveillance, reconnaissance and drone-defence solutions. The Estonian defence company’s sales revenue rose 173 percent last year, and two new factories are being built in Tabasalu.

Supporter of National Defence of the Year: Alexela is a major partner of the reservists’ fund. Together with its customers, it has donated nearly 50,000 euros to the fund this year. The company also supports employees who contribute to national defence and works to raise public awareness of support for reservists.

The gala will be broadcast live on ERR’s website from 5 p.m. and on ETV from 7.30 p.m.