The search is beginning for the 2026 Greenest Places.Awards will be made to Ireland’s Greenest Community; Greenest Suburb; Greenest Town or Village; Overall Winner and, a new one this year, Ireland’s Net Zero Hero.We are asking readers to nominate the places, projects and people they believe are Ireland’s greenest.Dingle won the inaugural Ireland’s Greenest Places competition run by The Irish Times in association with Electric Ireland last year after bowling over the judges with the area’s locally led and community-based initiatives that strive for a greener way of living.At the end of this short article you will find a form to enter some basic details and make a case in a short written piece of up to 300 words as to why your nominees are deserving of recognition.All the entries will be assessed by a panel of judges and researchers before a longlist is compiled and the team take to the roads to see the nominated places for themselves.You don’t have to be part of the initiatives contributing to a better environment in the place you nominate. You don’t even have to live there. But if you’ve been impressed, heartened and inspired by what’s being achieved there, let us know.Over the summer, the longlist will be whittled down to a shortlist before the winners are announced in September, and The Irish Times will carry updates on each stage of the competition.[ The search for Ireland’s Greenest Places begins, with two new judges on boardOpens in new window ]Most of the judging panel have returned for the second year. They include former Green Party leader and ex-minister for the environment and climate Eamon Ryan, environmental consultant and former Irish Times environment editor Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times senior features writer Rosita Boland, and Lisa Browne, head of marketing and customer insights at ESB.Joining them for the first time are biologist, environmental consultant, author and radio presenter Éanna Ní Lamhna, and Shannen Healy, sustainability consultant known as @_greengal on Instagram and other platforms, she brings sustainability issues and tips for greener living to social media.There’s a little bit of work involved in writing a good pitch for your nominated place, so don’t delay. Please don’t use AI.