You can purchase a duplicate trophy from the Don't Panic trophy shop here post winners announcement and these deliveries are estimated to take 7-8 weeks once payment has been received for your order.
BEST USE OF INSTAGRAM
Winner 2026
Socialed & Gett UK
— Championing the London Taxi Trade & Building their Instagram from Scratch
"The judges thought... Turning an underperforming Instagram presence into an engaged community is no small achievement, particularly in a challenging market. This campaign demonstrated the power of thoughtful content, consistent execution and a clear understanding of what audiences wanted to connect with."
Silver 2026
Spring The Agency & Tinder UK
— SoleMates 2025
"The judges thought... A strong example of what a focused team can achieve, this campaign delivered impressive Instagram results through clear audience understanding and purposeful execution. The judges were particularly impressed by the strategic clarity behind the work and the impact achieved by a small team."
BEST USE OF YOUTUBE
Winner 2026
Jeremy Holland & The Golden Kobe Family
— Purpose Led Rescue Storytelling on YouTube
"The judges thought... Powerful storytelling and a deep understanding of YouTube made this campaign stand out. Every element, from audience strategy to creative execution, was carefully considered, resulting in remarkable audience growth and meaningful real-world impact."
Silver 2026
Tangerine & Specsavers
— Best Worst Team Season 3
"The judges thought... Refreshing an iconic brand for a new generation is no easy task, but this campaign achieved it with confidence. An entertaining creative concept, strong long-term content strategy and a clear understanding of YouTube helped deliver impressive audience engagement and business results."
BEST USE OF TIKTOK
Winner 2026
Mindshare UK & Unilever UK
— Vaseline Verified
"The judges thought... Rather than asking creators to fit the brand, this campaign allowed the brand to fit TikTok. A native-first approach, backed by rigorous measurement and a bold creative idea, transformed a legacy product into something that genuinely resonated with a new generation."
BEST AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
National Deaf Children’s Society
— When Daddy Pig Ran the Marathon for George
"The judges thought... By putting authentic representation and accessibility at the heart of its strategy, this campaign created meaningful audience participation alongside outstanding fundraising results. A creative concept, delivered with care and purpose, made for a truly engaging and impactful campaign."
Silver 2026
Smarts & Asda
— Love is in the Aisles
"The judges thought... Built around a clever creative concept, this campaign demonstrated how a strong audience insight can deliver meaningful engagement. The judges recognised its effective execution, impressive results and the significant impact achieved on a modest budget."
BEST SOCIAL INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
Buddy Media Group & Wilkinson Sword Intuition
— Bring The Energy: Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
"The judges thought... Rather than simply using influencers to amplify a message, this campaign built a community around one. The judges valued the strength of the concept, the genuine creator partnerships and the way the idea translated into real audience connection."
Silver 2026
Coolr & Deliveroo
— Route R00
"The judges thought... A clever and memorable campaign that brought its idea to life through authentic storytelling. By navigating a culturally sensitive subject with care and creativity, the team created a connection with audiences and delivered an engaging influencer-led experience."
BEST COLLABORATION WITH A CONTENT CREATOR
Winner 2026
BAM! Comedy & Moonpig
— Trying to Bond with your Father-in-Law
"The judges thought... A smart collaboration that focused on meaningful goals rather than headline numbers. The engaging creative approach captured and held audiences' attention, delivering impressive results and demonstrating the value of well-crafted creator content."
Silver 2026
The Cast & Channel 4
— ChuglyGirl
"The judges thought... Success often comes down to finding the right voice, and this collaboration did exactly that. A relatable creator, engaging content and clear evidence of impact came together in a campaign that was both authentic and highly effective."
BEST COLLABORATION WITH AN INFLUENCER
Winner 2026
Coolr & Deliveroo
— Route R00
"The judges thought... Built on authenticity and genuine community engagement, this influencer collaboration demonstrated thoughtful strategic planning from the outset. Clear objectives, well-defined KPIs and a compelling partnership combined to deliver a standout campaign."
Silver 2026
London Northwestern Railway
— Spudman 730 Tour
"The judges thought... Creative thinking brought this campaign to life, seamlessly combining influencer marketing with out-of-home activation to create an engaging, immersive experience. By making the influencer central to the idea, the collaboration felt authentic both online and in the real world."
BEST USE OF RESEARCH & EVALUATION
Winner 2026
TUI & Catalyst Creative
— TUI Gives You More
"The judges thought... Rather than relying on instinct alone, this team let the evidence lead the way. Thorough audience testing and rigorous evaluation gave every creative decision a clear purpose, setting a high standard for research-led marketing."
MOST IMPACTFUL SOCIAL MEDIA INNOVATION
Winner 2026
OOB & OOB Labs
— Scoring Content Before It Is Published
"The judges thought... This entry demonstrated innovation with real purpose, using AI and predictive technology to tackle a long-standing industry challenge. A clearly differentiated proposition, underpinned by strong strategic thinking and demonstrable client impact, made it a worthy winner."
MOST INNOVATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
Shell V-Power
— Feel Closer
"The judges thought... This campaign demonstrated how technology can elevate, rather than replace, human creativity. A bold concept, intelligent use of AI and exceptional execution combined to deliver a memorable brand experience with impressive, measurable results."
Silver 2026
TUI UK Brand Social Team & Pinterest
— Goddess Complex: TUI's Golden Hour
"The judges thought... Built around a clear audience insight, this campaign used social innovation to guide consumers through the journey from inspiration to action. Smart platform choices, creative execution and strong results made it a standout Silver winner."
BEST LOW BUDGET CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
Bigbox & Pellows
— The Sh!t We Deal With
"The judges thought... There was real boldness in this campaign, proving that a limited budget does not have to mean limited ambition. Tackling a challenging subject with creativity and purpose, it generated strong social impact while successfully engaging key audiences and shifting the wider conversation."
Silver 2026
Pretzel Films & GrandpaSpy
— One Grandfather. One Grandson. 4 Million Impressions.
"The judges thought... A thoughtful campaign that showed real agility in letting the data shape the creative approach. The research was clearly thorough, but the willingness to challenge the original assumptions led to a more engaging execution and strong creative impact."
BEST USE OF UGC
Winner 2026
Coolr & WKD
— Got a WKD Side?
"The judges thought... By putting user-generated content at the heart of its strategy, this campaign successfully refreshed the brand's appeal for a Gen Z audience. The judges recognised its thoughtful planning, strong execution and clear strategic direction."
Silver 2026
Wavemaker UK & Activia
— Gut Health Tracker
"The judges thought... A thoughtful and well-executed campaign that demonstrated a strong understanding of audience behaviour. By combining trusted creators, humour and a carefully planned cross-platform strategy, the team delivered impressive results through effective use of user-generated content."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Winner 2026
The Cast & Channel 4
— Educating Yorkshire
"The judges thought... Rather than allowing limitations to define the campaign, the team used them to inspire it. A nostalgic creative approach, varied creator storytelling and outstanding execution combined to produce a genuinely engaging piece of social entertainment."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FINANCE
Winner 2026
Buddy Media Group & Aviva
— A Mug Of Life: Cover Stories
"The judges thought... The strongest campaigns never feel like marketing, and this was a perfect example. A clever concept, thoughtful execution and a natural storytelling approach delivered an engaging campaign that exceeded its objectives without ever forcing the message."
Silver 2026
Spin & ACCA
— Changing the Perception of Accountancy
"The judges thought... Standing out in financial services takes originality, and this campaign achieved exactly that. An inventive concept, thoughtful creator collaborations and a clear strategic approach delivered strong results on a modest budget."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR RETAIL
Winner 2026
Favola & The Entertainer
— Driving Audience Engagement & Commercial Impact
"The judges thought... Putting people at the heart of the strategy made this campaign particularly compelling. By combining employee advocacy with thoughtful audience segmentation, the team created authentic content that resonated across multiple audiences and delivered impressive results."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HOSPITALITY
Winner 2026
Cartwright & Slick City
— A slick UK launch
"The judges thought... Launching an unfamiliar brand takes confidence and a clear strategy, and this campaign delivered both. Platform-specific execution, well-defined commercial objectives and outstanding business results combined to create a highly convincing winner."
Silver 2026
A Friendly Bunch & Paradox Museum London
— Mind-bending organic social
"The judges thought... Creativity and resourcefulness were at the heart of this campaign. By making excellent use of staff advocacy, user-generated content and clearly defined platform roles, the team delivered impressive results despite a challenging budget."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FMCG
Winner 2026
MikeWorldWide & Whole Foods Market
— The Making of Six New Neighbourhood Rituals
"The judges thought... Sometimes knowing when not to speak is the smartest strategy of all. By combining rich audience insight with a creative multi-channel approach, this campaign built anticipation, delivered impressive results and proved that bold thinking does not require a big budget."
Silver 2026
Stakked & Golden Kings
— Handpicking Kingsley the Potato
"The judges thought... A playful concept brought to life with intelligence and flair. By building on familiar social behaviours while adding its own creative twist, this campaign delivered a memorable piece of work that genuinely connected with audiences."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FASHION
Winner 2026
SocialChain & Primark
— In My Denim
"The judges thought... This campaign challenged the expected fashion playbook and proved the value of putting audiences at the centre. The use of creator stories, interactive formats and community participation created a social-first approach that felt authentic, relevant and built for the platforms it lived on."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HEALTH & BEAUTY
Winner 2026
Campfire & Vaseline
— Say Hya on the Slopes
"The judges thought... The real strength of this campaign was its ability to spark momentum far beyond the original brief. Thoughtful creator selection, a highly effective content strategy and outstanding earned reach turned a planned influencer activation into something with lasting impact."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM
Winner 2026
National Rail & Spin
— 200 Years of Stories
"The judges thought... A truly standout campaign that combined emotional storytelling with exceptional strategic rigour. The judges were impressed by the depth of thinking behind every decision, from the clearly defined objectives through to the detailed performance analysis and outstanding results."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FOOD & DRINK
Winner 2026
Coolr, Burger King UK & Pringles
— Flip the FOMO
"The judges thought... This campaign succeeded because it understood not just its audience, but why people share, recommend and talk about food online. That insight shaped a creative approach which exceeded its objectives and delivered exceptional results."
Silver 2026
SEEN Connects & Arla Skyr
— Live Like an Icelander
"The judges thought... By giving creators the opportunity to experience the brand firsthand, this campaign laid the foundations for content that felt authentic and engaging. A simple but thoughtful idea, executed with confidence, delivered a memorable social campaign."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SPORTS & FITNESS
Winner 2026
The FA & Hope&Glory
— First Time Fans
"The judges thought... There was a real confidence to this campaign. A simple but powerful creative idea, brought to life with sensitivity and precision, resulted in engaging content that resonated with audiences and achieved strong results."
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HOME & GARDEN
Winner 2026
Rightmove & Uncovered
— Cake, Content and 25 Years of Rightmove
"The judges thought... Playful, confident and unmistakably social, this campaign understood exactly how to capture attention. A clever take on a well-known trend, combined with strong creator partnerships, resulted in a memorable campaign with impressive impact."
BEST CHARITY / NOT-FOR-PROFIT CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
Electrical Safety First
— The Beep
"The judges thought... This campaign understood that meaningful messages have the greatest impact when audiences choose to engage with them. Creative execution, clever use of social trends and a clear strategic approach combined to bring an important subject vividly to life."
BEST LONG-TERM STRATEGIC USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Winner 2026
OOB & Ann Summers
— Bringing a British Icon Back Into Culture
"The judges thought... This submission showed the power of sustained strategic thinking. A clear long-term vision, backed by consistent delivery, transformed audience growth while creating original content that evolved into something with impact far beyond the social feed."
Silver 2026
Spinnaker London & Sony Pictures UK
— Journey to 1.2M
"The judges thought... Recognising that success on social requires constant evolution, this strategy successfully transformed a campaign-led channel into an always-on entertainment destination. Creative thinking, a strong understanding of audience behaviour and sustained performance made this a worthy Silver winner."
BEST INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN
Sponsored by
Winner 2026
Freuds and DHSC
— Joe Wicks: Activate
"The judges thought... This campaign demonstrated the power of integration, with each platform playing a clearly defined role in achieving the overall objective. The judges praised its strategic planning, creative approach and the clarity with which the story was presented."
BEST REAL TIME RESPONSE CAMPAIGN
Winner 2026
VCCP Social Club & Co-op
— Owned by you, Right by you.
"The judges thought... This campaign stood out for the quality of its thinking as much as its execution. Rather than simply reacting to the moment, the team identified the right opportunities, responded with confidence and created content that felt timely, relevant and true to the brand."
Silver 2026
Hasbro & Peppa Pig
— Peppa Pig & Conan Gray Surprise Concert Appearance
"The judges thought... A modest budget became one of the campaign's greatest strengths, encouraging a fast, focused activation that audiences embraced almost instantly. The remarkable reach and engagement achieved in such a short space of time made this a thoroughly deserving Silver winner."
BEST USE OF PAID SOCIAL
Winner 2026
GRA & Clyde Munro
— Replacing Dentures with Implants
"The judges thought... This campaign went beyond delivering an excellent paid social strategy. By combining rich audience insight with full-funnel creative and practical solutions that improved the wider customer journey, it achieved outstanding results while staying true to the campaign objectives."
Silver 2026
Cartwright & Slick City
— Ticket to slide
"The judges thought... Launching a brand from zero awareness is never easy, making these results all the more impressive. A well-executed paid social campaign generated exceptional early demand and laid a strong foundation for future growth."
BEST USE OF AI IN SOCIAL MEDIA
Winner 2026
Shell V-Power
— Feel Closer
"The judges thought... Innovation felt purposeful throughout this campaign. AI was used to deepen audience engagement through personalised creative, with the technology seamlessly supporting the idea rather than becoming the story itself. The result was an engaging campaign with impressive business impact."
EMERGING TALENT AWARD
Sponsored by
Winner 2026
Olivia Tuffrey
— The Good Influence
"The judges thought... Exceptional talent was evident throughout this submission. Combining creativity with commercial awareness, Olivia has already made a significant impact on both clients and her agency, demonstrating the confidence, ambition and results of someone with a hugely promising future."
SOCIAL MEDIA LEADER OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Drew Benvie
— Battenhall
"The judges thought... The judges recognised a leader whose influence can be seen across both their work and the wider industry. Their vision, dedication and continued drive to push boundaries make them a thoroughly deserving winner."
BEST IN-HOUSE TEAM
Winner 2026
Hobbycraft
"The judges thought... What stood out was a team that feels genuinely connected to its audience and culture. From reactive moments to strategic collaborations, the entry showed how staying close to conversations and acting quickly can create meaningful social impact."
Silver 2026
Leeds Building Society
— Social Media Team
"The judges thought... A mature and well-developed social function, this team demonstrated a clear understanding of the role it plays within the wider business. Strong measurement, thoughtful objectives and impressive achievements showed the impact of a high-performing in-house team."
BEST IN-AGENCY TEAM
Winner 2026
Brands2Life
"The judges thought... Outstanding teams are built on strong people as much as strong performance. By creating an environment where its team could thrive, this agency consistently delivered exceptional results for clients while demonstrating impressive stability and long-term success."
Silver 2026
VCCP Social Club
"The judges thought... This submission showed a team that hit the ground running. Strong client case studies, clear objectives and impressive early achievements combined to create a convincing case for Silver."
BEST START-UP AGENCY (LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD)
Winner 2026
HelloFranses!
"The judges thought... Building such a strong proposition and client base in less than a year is no small achievement. The agency has made an impressive mark in a remarkably short time, with strong growth, a clear commercial model and a distinctive, bespoke offering."
BEST SMALL AGENCY
Sponsored by
Winner 2026
Favola
"The judges thought... A clear sense of identity ran throughout this submission, supported by an impressive breadth of client work and strong commercial performance. The judges particularly valued the clear connection between creative social campaigns, measurable business growth and the agency's long-term success."
Silver 2026
TSA
"The judges thought... This submission presented a well-rounded picture of a growing agency, balancing business performance with a strong culture and lasting client partnerships. Clear objectives, measurable progress and authentic client endorsement made for a compelling Silver winner."
BEST LARGE AGENCY
Sponsored by
Winner 2026
Fabric Social
"The judges thought... A great agency is defined by more than the work it produces, and this entry demonstrated exactly that. An exceptional client portfolio, consistently high levels of client satisfaction and a proactive approach to business challenges combined to create a deserving Gold-winning submission."
Silver 2026
eight&four
"The judges thought... This was a submission that let its achievements speak for themselves. Clear evidence, strong performance and a compelling overall story secured a deserved Silver."
Our Event Sponsors & Partners
Testimonials
"Participating in awards is a great way to acknowledge the dedication that goes into creating brilliant work. It’s not about winning, although that’s always a fabulous bonus. The real benefit lies in recognising the collective effort and success of our teams and partners. It’s incredibly motivating and builds a sense of pride in celebrating our achievements. Beyond this, it allows us to showcase our capability and commitment to continued innovation, which plays a key role in attracting future talent across the industry."
Tui
"We are thrilled to have won this award for the second consecutive year! This is a great recognition of our growth, the quality of work achieved and the wonderful team we’ve built in the last six years. We are all so proud and can’t wait to see what we achieve next."
Zoe Stephenson, Co-Founder & Managing Director The Social Shepherd
"This award fuels our determination to continue building our reputation for developing strong and impactful products. We’re excited about the journey ahead and remain committed to delivering excellence in the ever-evolving world of social media. Thank you for this achievement!"
Performics
"Being recognised at the UK Social Media Awards is particularly special to us, considering the high calibre of competition that extends across the country and many different industries. We are proud to be a shining example of the high-quality work that can be produced as a public sector organisation."
Manchester City Council
"To have our successes recognised nationally by UK Social Media Awards, both in paid social and as an agency, after a period of challenge and change, is a wonderful testament to our dedication to our clients and passion for social media."
Oh So Social
"The UK Social Media Awards not only honour remarkable achievements and innovations in social media marketing but also serve as a launchpad for future triumphs for all the winners."
Alex Blomfield Motive Agency
"The Don’t Panic team have been a pleasure to work with: professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive throughout. These awards are incredibly valuable, not only because they recognise creativity and results, but because they provide an important platform to showcase best practice, celebrate innovation, and benchmark against some of the best in the industry. Being shortlisted has been a real highlight for our team, and I would highly recommend the experience to others."
Karen Smith, Regional Head of Marketing ACCA
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