How long should an acceptance speech be?

Usually 30 seconds to two minutes, depending on the event. If organisers give you a time limit, aim for less than it.

Who should I thank in an acceptance speech?

The people who made the work possible, briefly and by group where you can. A few specific names are better than a long list.

Should I prepare a speech if I am only nominated?

Yes. Prepare a short version just in case. It is far easier than improvising on stage.

How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech (With a Simple Template)

Won an award or nominated for one? How to write a short, gracious acceptance speech, who to thank, what to leave out, and how to deliver it without reading a list.

Award season at work, in industry bodies and in local communities tends to cluster in November and December. If you have been nominated, prepare a short acceptance speech now. Even if you do not win, you will not be caught improvising in front of a room.

Keep it short

Most acceptance speeches should be under two minutes, and many events expect less. At 140 words per minute, one minute is about 140 words. Use the script length calculator guide to check your draft.

A simple template

Thank the organisers in one sentence.
Say what the award means to you, in one or two sentences.
Thank the people who made it possible, by group or with a few names.
Share the credit or point beyond yourself. One line about the team, the cause or the people you serve.
Close with a simple thank you.

Example

"Thank you to the Northern Business Awards for this, and congratulations to everyone shortlisted. This award is really for the team who built our apprenticeship programme from nothing three years ago. To Sam, Priya and Jonah, who did the hard work, and to the 40 apprentices who trusted us with their first jobs: this is yours. Thank you."

That is about 70 words and takes around 30 seconds.

Thank people without reading a list

Long lists of names are the most common problem with acceptance speeches. They lose the room and inevitably miss someone. Group people where you can: "the support team", "my family", "everyone who answered my late-night messages". Then name two or three people whose contribution was outstanding.

What to leave out

False modesty. "I do not deserve this" makes the audience uncomfortable. "I am honoured" is enough.
Long stories. Save the full story for an interview or a blog post.
In-jokes. If half the room will not get it, cut it.
Anything about other nominees except congratulations.

Prepare two versions

Write a full version and a 15-second version. If the event is running late, or the host asks you to keep it brief, you can switch without panic. The short version is usually just steps 1, 3 and 5.

Delivery on stage

Walk up, pause, breathe. Take a second before you speak. It looks confident, not hesitant.
Hold the award low, or set it down, so it is not in front of your face.
Look up for the thank yous. Eye contact makes gratitude feel real.
End clearly. Say "thank you" and step back, so the audience knows to clap.

A few lines on a phone are acceptable at most events. If you use a prompter app, keep the font large and test it under stage lighting. For nerves, breathing for speaking on camera works just as well on a stage.

If the speech is recorded

Some awards ask winners to send a recorded acceptance video. In that case, write it for the ear, keep it under a minute, and record a few takes. A prompter makes it easier to look into the lens. See how to record yourself talking.