Digital Impact Awards 2026 shortlist revealed

Now in its 17th year, the Digital Impact Awards has unveiled its 2026 shortlist, recognising work that combines considered design with a clear understanding of its audiences.

This year’s entries span industries, markets and formats, from internal platforms designed to make businesses work better to external campaigns built around increasingly sophisticated digital audiences. Together, they offer a snapshot of an industry moving towards more agile, user-focused communications.

The shortlist was selected by a panel of experienced judges, bringing expertise across digital strategy, design and corporate communications.

The winners will be announced on 10 November at the Park Plaza London Riverbank Hotel. The evening will conclude with the presentation of the Grand Prix, awarded last year to Capita for the British Army and Great State. 

Tables for the ceremony are now available to book here. 

The shortlist is as follows:

DELIVERABLES 

Best Corporate Website 
ArcelorMittal Automotive and SampsonMay 
Caledonia Investments and three thirty studio  
Foresight Group and Gather London  
IMI and SampsonMay  
PZ Cussons

thisbank and Equimedia 
Unilever  
Vodafone and IDX  

 

Best Use of SEO for Corporate Communications 
Affinia and Itineris 
OSW and Happy Horizon – LEQUAL 

 

Best Use of Mobile or Corporate App 
Bellway  
ScottishPower  
Thatchers Cider and Bray Leino  

 

Best Digital Communications as Part of an Integrated Campaign 
Electrical Safety First  
Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global  
English Riviera BID Company and Chalk & Ward  
Harvester Salad Bar and OneFifty Digital Consultancy  
MBZUAI and The Cusp Marketing  
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum and Happy Horizon 

 

Best Use of Digital to Aid a CSR Campaign 
Hassell Inclusion  
Hoofdpijn Alliantie and Happy Horizon  
PURINA and 1000heads 

 

Best Corporate Viral Campaign 
The FA and Hope&Glory 
Unilever 

 

Best Use of Online Video 
Electrical Safety First (The Beep)  
Landmarc Support Services and Edson Evers 
Pokémon and Hope&Glory  
The Church of England  
The FA and Hope&Glory  
Unilever  

 

Best Use of Audio 
IHG and 33Seconds 
Rosenblatt Law and SEC Newgate 

 

Best Digital Accessibility 
IKEA Retail (Ingka Group)  
RHP and Great State  
Unilever 

 

Best Digital Transformation 
CFA Institute and MSQ DX  
Longleat and Great State  
Papyrus and Kind  
Plan Vivo and Kind  
Sandringham Financial Partners 

 

Best Use of Artificial Intelligence 
Bellway  
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and MSQ DX  
Corinthia Hotels and MSQ DX  
IMI and SampsonMay  
National Grid Electricity Distribution 
Shell  
Willmott Dixon and Tribus Digital  

 

Best Use of Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality 
Flashgroup  
Servier and Random42 Scientific Communication 

 

Best Use of Data 
Capabel and Happy Horizon  
Danone and Onclusive 
Heijnen Planten and Happy Horizon  
Thermen Resorts and Happy Horizon 

 

Best Innovation 
AVIS and Happy Horizon – LEQUAL with Boundless Digital 
Encephalitis International  
National Grid Electricity Distribution 
Nimbus and MSQ DX  
Shell  

 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Best Use of Existing Social Media Platforms: Small Budget <£20K 
Wintringham, St Neots and famille 

 

Best Use of Existing Social Media Platforms: Medium Budget £20K–£75K 
Electrical Safety First  
The FA and Hope&Glory  
UK Power Networks Services and TEAM LEWIS 

 

Best Use of Existing Social Media Platforms: Large Budget £75K+ 
NAILS.INC and 1000heads 
Pokémon and Hope&Glory  
The Church of England 

 

Best Community Development 
Allex Projects GmbH 
iQ Student Accommodation and TONG Global 
Logitech G and Happy Horizon – Vertigo 6  
The Church of England  

 

BEST USE OF DIGITAL TO AN INTERNAL AUDIENCE 

Best Intranet  
Anglo American 
ZIGUP and Oak Engage  

 

Best Digital Employee Communications 
Anglo American  
AstraZeneca and Ruder Finn  
Bellway  
Kier Group and OneFifty Digital Consultancy 

 

BEST USE OF DIGITAL TO AN INVESTMENT AUDIENCE 

Best Online Annual Report 
BT Group and Emperor Design Consultants Limited  
Informa and Luminous  
Lloyds Banking Group and Emperor Design Consultants Limited 
Oakley Capital Investments and Friend Studio  
Stratton Craig and Black Sun Global for Primark 
UK Power Networks and TEAM LEWIS  

 

Best Use of Digital to an Investment Audience 
Airtel Africa and Friend Studio  
alrajhi bank and Smart Media 
Caledonia Investments and three thirty studio  
CGS and Smart Media 
Pantheon International and TEAM LEWIS 
Unilever  

 

EVALUATION 

Best Evaluation Strategy 
Affinia and Itineris 
Salone del Risparmio and Onclusive  
Samsonite APAC and Onclusive 

 

BEST USE OF DIGITAL BY SECTOR 

Best Use of Digital by a Charity, NGO or Not-for-Profit 
Electrical Safety First  
Hoofdpijn Alliantie and Happy Horizon 
Papyrus and Kind  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Automotive Sector 
ArcelorMittal Automotive and SampsonMay  
AVIS and Happy Horizon – LEQUAL with Boundless Digital 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Education Sector 
Alef Education and Smart Media 
Capabel and Happy Horizon  
Sandwell College and The Cusp Marketing  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Energy and Utilities Sector 
Naked Energy and Stoneway  
National Grid Electricity Distribution 
ScottishPower  
UK Power Networks and TEAM LEWIS 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector 
Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global 
IMI and SampsonMay 
Marshalls and MSQ DX 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Farming and Agricultural Sector 
Almarai Company and Smart Media 
Danone and Onclusive 
Heijnen Planten and Happy Horizon 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Financial Services Sector 
alrajhi bank and Smart Media 
Caledonia Investments and three thirty studio  
M&G and IDX  
Qredits and Happy Horizon  

 

Best Use of Digital from the FMCG Sector 
Arla Foods UK and MSQ DX/26 PMX  
NAILS.INC and 1000heads 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Food and Beverage Sector 
Almarai Company and Smart Media 
Rookway Food Systems and Tribus Digital  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector 
AstraZeneca and Ruder Finn  
Encephalitis International  
Servier and Random42 Scientific Communication 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Industrial and Basic Materials Sector 
Anglo American 
ArcelorMittal Automotive and SampsonMay 
Sappi and Wardour  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Oil, Gas, Mining and Extractives Sector 
Anglo American 
ArcelorMittal Automotive and SampsonMay 
Harbour Energy and Design Portfolio 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Professional Services Sector 
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and MSQ DX  
CIL Strategy Consultants and Radley Yeldar 
RHR International and Radstone 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Property, Construction and Facilities Management Sector 
Bellway  
Cala Homes and Fresh Egg  
Cascade Risk Management and Tribus Digital 
Wintringham, St Neots and famille  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Public Sector 
Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru and Storm ID  
UK Civil Aviation Authority and AB Brand and Marketing Agency 

 

Best Use of Digital from the Sports, Travel, Leisure and Tourism Sector 
Audio Obscura and Happy Horizon – Iconic Studios 
Longleat and Great State  
The FA and Hope&Glory  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector 
atNorth 
Logitech G and Happy Horizon – Vertigo 6  
Pokémon and Hope&Glory  
SNAPDRAGON and 1000heads  
VodafoneThree and MSQ DX  

 

Best Use of Digital from the Transport and Logistics Sector 
Bridgestone West and Sequel Group 
SAL and Smart Media 

 

There is no shortlist for the Grand prix. Everyone shortlisted is eligible and the winner will be announced at a very special awards ceremony on 10 November, at Park Plaza Riverbank, London.