Nominations open for the inaugural National Play Awards 2026
Who is creating the conditions for children to play? Play England is calling for nominations for the inaugural National Play Awards 2026.
For the first time, the National Play Awards will bring together and celebrate outstanding contributions to children’s play across England.
The Awards are rooted in Play England’s ten-year strategy- It All Starts with Play! and our ambition to restore a play-based childhood for all children in England by 2035.
We want to recognise the people, places, practice and progress that are making that ambition real.
Nominations are free and are now open until 5.00pm on Friday 25 September 2026.
Six awards. One shared purpose.
The National Play Awards recognise achievement across the four interconnected areas of Play England’s strategy:
Spaces Award
For outstanding work creating, protecting or improving the places and environments in which children play.Skills Award
For outstanding work strengthening the knowledge, confidence and capability of the people who enable children’s play.Sector Award
For outstanding contributions to the policy, evidence, investment, infrastructure and systems that support play.Society Award
For outstanding work making play more normal, accepted and visible in everyday life.
Alongside these are two equal headline honours:
Children’s Play Personality of the Year
Recognising an individual child or defined group under 18 whose contribution, commitment or achievement has made an outstanding difference to play.Play Personality of the Year
Recognising an adult whose contribution, commitment and achievement has made an outstanding difference to children’s play in England.
Who should be nominated?
We want to hear about achievement from across the whole play ecosystem.
That could be a child who has changed something in their neighbourhood. A community group protecting opportunities for play. A playworker or professional changing practice. A council taking a different approach to play. A researcher producing evidence that changed decisions. A designer creating genuinely inclusive places. A campaign shifting attitudes. A partnership securing investment or changing policy.
It could be work happening nationally, locally or on a single street. What matters is what changed for children and their freedom and opportunities to play.
Volunteers, trustees, unpaid advocates and grassroots organisations are particularly encouraged to nominate and be nominated.
Rooted in children’s right to play
The National Play Awards are founded on children’s right to play under Article 31 of the UNCRC.
Dr Naomi Lott’s STAR framework - Space, Time, Acceptance and Rights - provides the common lens across every category.
Judges will look at:
the significance of the achievement
the impact on children’s play
contribution to Space, Time, Acceptance and Rights
inclusion and children’s participation; and
the strength of the evidence, learning and sustainability
These are not awards for the biggest organisation, the most expensive project or the most polished nomination.
They are about recognising real change for children’s play.
Help us find the people and work that deserve national recognition
The winners will be announced at the inaugural National Play Awards on Thursday 8 October 2026 in Warwick, immediately ahead of the National Play Conference on Friday 9 October.
If someone, somewhere or something has made an outstanding difference to children’s play during the past year, tell us about it.
View the National Play Awards and nominate now
#ItAllStartsWithPlay!