On December 3, 2026, Lviv will host RAU Awards 2026, the 9th award ceremony for Ukraine’s premier professional distinction in the retail and commercial real estate sector. This evening will reveal the companies, projects, and industry leaders receiving the year's highest honors. The award positions itself as a key professional market event: it is not just a summing-up of results, but a networking platform for business owners, CEOs, and top managers of leading companies, fostering new acquaintances and partnerships.
Retail Nominees: From Chains and Gas Stations to Marketplaces
This year, leading retail chains, developers, and industry managers are competing for professional recognition in the retail sector. Nominees include ATB, Aurora, COMFY, EVA, Foxtrot, OKKO, WOG, METRO Ukraine, Nova Poshta, VARUS, Sinsay, Rozetka, FORA, Dityatko (House of Toys), Podorozhnyk, MasterZoo, and other well-known companies. The list covers various formats: grocery retail, fuel networks, online platforms, postal and logistics infrastructure, as well as specialized stores, reflecting the breadth of the market evaluated by the award.
Commercial Real Estate: Competition for Industry Leadership Titles
In the commercial real estate sector, NIKOLSKY, Respublika Park (in the industry leaders category), Forum Lviv, Victoria Gardens, Veles Mall, ZLATA PLAZA, BUKOVYNA MALL, and other market representatives will compete for awards. Thus, the nominations feature both large multifunctional and shopping complexes, as well as projects claiming segment leader status, ranging from Lviv venues to facilities in other regions.
How Winners Will Be Determined: Expert Council and Special Award
Winners will be determined by an Expert Council of 36 market representatives in accordance with the approved award methodology. This means that final decisions are formed not by popularity or marketing metrics, but by agreed criteria enshrined in the methodology. Separately, the ceremony will honor the industry’s most successful managers and present the special Yevhen Kulinich Award for «Most Dynamic Retailer of the Year».
Significance of the Event for the Industry
For market participants, RAU Awards 2026 is an evening of professional recognition where the year's results are summed up and the achievements of companies and their leaders are publicly celebrated. The organizers emphasize that the ceremony becomes a crossroad for business owners and top management, while the opportunity to be the first to learn the winners' names and personally congratulate the best is viewed as part of the year's main professional event. Registration for the event is open for those who want to attend the awarding ceremony live.
