Voting opens for 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards
More than 500 charities are competing for national recognition.
Public voting has officially opened for the 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards, the world’s largest campaign spotlighting charity storytelling through film, as more than 500 charities compete for national recognition in what has widely become known as the “Oscars of the charity world.”
From grassroots organisations like Bristol Animal Rescue Centre to major national charities such as Dementia UK, charities of all sizes are calling on the public to support their work by casting a simple online vote.
The organisation has said the process takes less than two minute, “quicker than eating a mince pie” but noted that it could make the difference in determining whether a film progresses to finalist status or “fades into the background”. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in March 2026.
Since launching eight years ago, the Charity Film Awards have supported more than 5,000 charities, reached nearly 1 million voters, and generated over 350 million film impressions. Last year alone, its online ceremony attracted 181,000 viewers, highlighting the growing influence of the campaign across the UK and beyond.
This year’s entries represent a broad spectrum of causes, including mental health, homelessness, disability inclusion, animal welfare, youth services, and international development. Charities are grouped by turnover, from under £100,000 to over £50 million, ensuring a fair and level playing field for organisations of all sizes.
Finalists will be announced in February 2026, based on public voting results, before an industry panel selects the ultimate winners.
Past judges and supporters have included representatives from the BBC, BFI National Archive, Meta, LinkedIn, HSBC and Airbnb, alongside celebrity presenters such as Tamzin Outhwaite, Scarlette Douglas, Patrick Grant, Jeff Brazier, Patsy Palmer, Una Healy and Patsy Kensit.
Speaking about the launch of public voting, Nicolas Loufrani, Founder of the Smiley Movement (the CIC powering the Awards), said: “The Charity Film Awards show what happens when creativity meets compassion. These films don’t just tell stories they change lives by sparking awareness, funding, and action. Every vote helps amplify a cause that might otherwise go unheard. With over 500 powerful films this year, the public has a real opportunity to shape which stories get national attention.”
Members of the public can watch and vote for charity films online by searching by charity name, browsing by UN Sustainable Development Goal, filtering by charity size or category, or by exploring all films
Voters can support as many films as they wish (one vote per film), and voting closes: 31 January 2026.