The Engineering Excellence Awards 2026 will be hosted by comedian, author and broadcaster Colm O'Regan, bringing his sharp wit and audience rapport to the ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry on Wednesday, 21 October.

O'Regan is a familiar face and voice across Irish media, having performed stand-up comedy around the world and appeared on RTÉ's Late Late Show and Comedy Central. He is the author of seven best-selling books, the most recent of which, Climate Worrier, was nominated for an Irish Book Award. He has since adapted the book into a touring show that has sold out venues across the country, as well as developed it into a keynote presentation for companies and conferences.

Alongside his writing and performing, O'Regan contributes a weekly column to the Irish Examiner and has written radio and TV diaries for RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime and BBC World Service's In The Balance. He spent three years scripting, presenting and filming reports for BBC World News' Talking Business, bringing an engaging perspective to economics and business across Ireland, Europe and the United States.

O'Regan is no stranger to the awards circuit, regularly taking on MC duties at ceremonies and corporate communications events, as well as moderating panels. He also works as a voiceover artist for advertising and as a narrator for television, rounding out a career built on versatility and audience engagement.

His appointment as host comes as finalists across the engineering sector prepare for a night celebrating achievement in structural engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing and renewable energy. With his background in bringing humour and clarity to complex topics, O'Regan is well placed to keep the evening moving while giving each category its moment in the spotlight.

Guests attending this year's ceremony can expect a night that balances recognition of the sector's standout performers with the kind of entertainment O'Regan has built his career on, as the Engineering Excellence Awards 2026 gets underway at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

For more on this year's finalists and the full event itinerary, visit the Engineering Excellence Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates.