The public voting phase for the 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards is now underway, marking the launch of the world’s largest platform dedicated to showcasing purpose-driven films created by charities. More than 500 organisations are competing this year in what has come to be regarded as the “Oscars of the charity world”.
Entrants range from small regional charities, including Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, to well-established national names such as Dementia UK. All participating organisations are now urging the public to support their cause by taking part in the open online voting process.
The organisers have highlighted that voting takes less than two minutes, describing it as “quicker than eating a mince pie” and noting that a single vote may determine whether a film progresses to the finals or “fades into the background”. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 2026.
In the eight years since the awards were established, more than 5,000 charities have taken part, almost 1 million individuals have voted, and over 350 million impressions have been generated. Last year’s online awards broadcast attracted an audience of 181,000 viewers, demonstrating the increasing recognition and influence of the event.
The entries this year cover a wide spectrum of causes, including disability awareness, youth empowerment, homelessness, mental health advocacy, international aid, and animal protection. Charities are grouped into categories based on organisational income, from under £100,000 to more than £50 million, ensuring equal footing between small and large entries.
Finalists will be named in February 2026 following the public voting stage, after which a panel of industry judges will determine 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 exploring all films
Voters can support as many films as they wish (one vote per film).
Voting closes: 31 January 2026.
