Broadcasters and journalists joined the stars of screen and stage at the 14th Asian Media Awards in Manchester.
The awards which are supported by the University of Salford returned to the Manchester Deansgate Hotel on Friday. The 2026 ceremony honoured nominees in a range of categories with seven special awards.
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Sky Sports presenter Bela Shah.
The night also saw the first South Asian punk band who played at gigs in the early 1980s presented with the new AMA Pioneers in Music Award.
ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia was named Journalist of the Year, whilst the BBC Eye & BBC World Service report ‘Stolen Lives: Who Gave Our Children HIV?’ picked up the Best Investigation honour.
Sejal said: “Speechless doesn’t quite cut it I really am shocked.
“It is a huge privilege to be here in front of such esteemed company and alongside the most amazing journalists.
“I really want to dedicate this award to my mum.
“Thirty years ago as an Asian woman starting out I struggled to find heroes with faces like mine doing this job.
“There is so much further to go but I look around this room and see how far we have come as a community.”
Journalist and broadcaster, Sonia Sodha was named the Media Personality of the Year.
Sonia Sodha has become a familiar voice in British public life, bringing clear thinking, conviction and a depth of experience to some of our most challenging debates.
A columnist and broadcaster, and former chief leader writer of The Observer, Sonia writes for publications including The Times and The Independent. She also makes documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and regularly appears as a political commentator on the Sky News BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.
She said: “It was an incredible honour to receive the Media Personality of the Year Award. The team behind the awards do such important work not just in celebrating diversity in the British media but in nurturing the talent of tomorrow and doing outreach with young people from South Asian backgrounds.
“That’s more important than ever in our polarised times.”
Aadam Patel won the Sports Journalist of the Year and ITV Central’s Ravneet Nadra was named Regional Journalist of the Year.
The Outstanding Young Journalist award was picked up by Jasmine Sandhar of BBC Newsbeat.
The night was also a moment to remember student Maariyah Kadu who had been among the student team in previous years.
Maariyah, a Broadcast Journalism Student at the University of Salford passed away in June, just weeks before she was due to graduate.
Over the past ceremonies, Maariyah had worked as part of a team at the Asian Media Awards interviewing guests on the blue carpet and also questioning some of the foremost journalists in the country.
Sharuna Sagar’s report into the far-right riots of last summer and their effect on local communities in the Northeast ‘Stories of Colour’ won the Report of the Year accolade.
Pritpal Kaur, the oldest South Asian woman to run the London Marathon was also surprised with an award for her efforts to inspire more women into fitness and well being.
Presenting some of the honours on the night were actress Bhavna Limbachia, broadcaster and presenter Tommy Sandhu, media personality Narinder Kaur, actor Justin Kendal-Sadiq, journalist Iram Ramzan as well as AMA panel members and partner organisations.
Shobu Kapoor presented with Sophiya Haque Services to British Film, TV and Theatre Award
Acclaimed actress Shobu Kapoor was awarded the Sophiya Haque Services to British Film, TV and Theatre Award. Shobu is a writer, teacher, producer, poet and stage actress, who has helped to inspire a whole generation of actors.
She is best known for her television work as much-loved Gita in Eastenders during the 1990s, Mrs Khan in Citizen Khan, Lady Sheffield in Bridgerton, and Seema in We Are Lady Parts.
Shobu was also surprised with a special video message from Citizen Khan co-star Ali Ray.
Shobu told the audience: “Thank you the Haq family and to the Asian Media awards for this extraordinary honour.
She joked “Clearly I am old enough to deserve a lifetime award”.
Shobu paid tribute to her late mum and daughter for their inspiration and spoke of her on going commitments to the wider human rights abuses across the world.
‘Original’ punk rockers reunite for first time
The Pioneers in Music Award went to the first Asian Punk band – Alien Kulture. All four members of the band were applauded on the night with the long overdue recognition.
Alien Kulture (aka Karachi City Rockers in private moments) was formed in South London in 1980 by Azhar Rana (drums, from Morden), Huw Jones (aka ‘the token white man’) (guitar, from Raynes Park). Pervez Bilgrami (vocals, from Balham) and Ausaf Abbas (bass, from Wimbledon).
The name itself was a take on the words of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who, during a television interview in January 1979 said, “people rather fear being swamped by an alien culture”.
Speaking on stage, Pervez Bilgrami thanked the organisers for ‘persevering’ and getting the band back together for one night.
He also spoke about the late seventies and how the band had formed to the backdrop of racist violence.
“Our aim was two-fold to speak about second generation Asians and counter the narrative that Asians are meek and mild and never fight back.
“We sang about songs that other people didn’t sing about.
“Cultural identity, arranged marriage, immigration law and the empire.”
He revealed how the band were eventually attacked by the National front in Clapham.
Pervez added: “We are still standing they aren’t”.
The Diversity in Media Award for 2026 went to the Head of Creative Diversity at the BBC Jessica Schibli.
She has helped to shape the future of representation at the world’s largest public service broadcaster, championing a BBC that more authentically reflects the richness of modern Britain. She has also been instrumental in strengthening the BBC’s Diversity Commissioning Code of Practice, embedding greater transparency and accountability.
The AMA Creator of the Year went to TikTok sensations Ham & Fam.
Led by Hamad Khan, known as The Halal Ham and wife Amina, the family have built a content powerhouse, creating viral comedy, groundbreaking entertainment formats and original shows through Ham & Fam Studios The channel has have grown rapidly across social media channels including TikTok with 1 million followers.
The Outstanding Contribution to Media Award was presented to Pedro Carvalho.
From championing bhangra on British commercial radio to shaping campaigns for international artists and humanitarian causes, he has helped others find their voice, their audience and their moment in the spotlight.
During the 1990s, he became a partner in one of the largest global ethnic PR and marketing agencies. In 2002, he co-founded FNIK PR and has continued to support new acts and a range of humanitarian causes.
Pedro was surprised with a series of messages from musician Jay Sean and TV’s Sunny and Shay among others.
In the radio categories BBC Asian Network Trending was named Best Show and Aaron Paul won the Radio Presenter of the Year. Lyca Radio picked up the Radio Station of the Year.
Stirring stage performances and online campaigns on female empowerment honoured
On stage, ‘Period Parrrty’ by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan from the Kali Theatre and Soho Theatre won the Best Stage Production honour. This year’s list was commended by panel members.
The team said: “Kali Theatre is absolutely tiny – we are 2.5 people. Gayathiri, the writer of the outstanding play about a trans Tamil teenager, came through our Discovery Programme for emerging playwrights.
“A testament to how vital these development pipelines are not just for our community and the sector, but the lifeblood of new theatre writing. Congrats to the team at Soho Theatre for the co-production, the cast and the crew. We love you.”
Nadia P Manzoor who took on multiple roles in the critically acclaimed ‘Jerk Off!’ won the Best Stage Performance honour.
Speaking on stage she said: “It is such an honour to be in a room with such accomplished brown creatives.”
“I feel I was told my whole life the only stage I was going to be on was my wedding stage…that my inherent status as a Muslim woman was to be a wife and mother.
“It is beyond validating that I am here as an artist, as a performer as a creator, as a storyteller, as a comedian.”
Online, A Rosie World won the Best Blog / Website award whilst, ‘No Shame, Just Stories of Survival’ from Anisha Vasani Creates for The Fashion Brunch for International Women’s Day 2026 won the Creative Media Award.
Here&Now365 won their first Media Agency of the Year award and Best Podcast award went to ‘The Dad Project’.
The drama, ‘Vengeance Murder on the Heath’ from Halcyon Heart Films for Channel 4 was named Best Programme / Show.
The Best Character award went to Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif in the highly lauded ‘Bait’.
The Best Live Event award was presented to Indian Army at the Palace Live from Historic Royal Palaces & Rifco Arts.
The 2026 Best Newcomer went to Mia Tharia who has been touted as one of Britain’s most promising young talents. On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC series Pheonix Rise and The Listeners Her films include September Says (2024)
