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 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 – Lequel

 

Best Use of Mobile or Corporate App
Bellway and Liberty PR
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 and Liberty PR
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and MSQ DX
Corinthia Hotels and MSQ DX
IMI and SampsonMay
National Grid and Enigma Interactive
Shell and The Gate London
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 – Lequel
Encephalitis International
National Grid and Enigma Interactive
Nimbus and MSQ DX
Shell and The Gate London

 

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 and Liberty PR
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
Primark and Stratton Craig
UK Power Networks and TEAM LEWIS

 

Best Use of Digital to an Investment Audience
Airtel Africa and Friend Studio
Al Rajhi Bank and Smart Media
Caledonia Investments and three thirty studio
CGS Holding Company 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-Global Automotive and SampsonMay
AVIS and Happy Horizon – Lequel

 

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 and Enigma Interactive
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
Al Rajhi 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
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 and SampsonMay
Sappi and Wardour

 

Best Use of Digital from the Oil, Gas, Mining and Extractives Sector
Anglo American
ArcelorMittal 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 and Liberty PR
Cala Homes and Fresh Egg
Harbottle Hughes 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.