Submissions Now Open for Shine Mental Health Media Awards 2026

Shine has opened submissions for the Shine Mental Health Media Awards 2026, recognising journalism, broadcasting and digital storytelling that contributes to a more informed, compassionate and accurate public conversation about mental health in Ireland.

The awards celebrate media professionals and content creators whose work helps increase understanding of mental illness, challenges stigma and promotes respectful, person-centred reporting of mental health experiences.

Entries are open from 20th August and close 14th September 2026, with journalists, producers, editors, broadcasters and content creators invited to submit work published or broadcast during the eligibility period.

New for 2026 is the Youth Mental Health Media Award, delivered in partnership with spunout. The award will recognise outstanding journalism and content creation that supports, informs and engages young people on mental health and wellbeing, reflecting the growing importance of accessible and trustworthy mental health content for younger audiences.

Full details about the awards are available at shine.ie/awards with entries available at shine.awardsplatform.com.

Nicola Byrne, CEO of Shine, said:

“The way mental illness is represented in the media has a powerful influence on how it is understood and discussed in Ireland. Great journalism and storytelling can challenge stigma, build understanding and amplify the voices of people with lived experience.”

“We are grateful to Coimisiún na Meán for their continued support as main sponsor of the awards. Their partnership reflects the shared importance of improving how mental health and mental illness are understood, represented and discussed across Irish society. We also acknowledge the support of our partners across the awards programme.”

Áine O'Meara, Media Programme Lead at Shine, said:

“Behind every strong mental health story is careful editorial judgement, trust and a commitment to sharing people’s experiences responsibly. These awards recognise the journalists, producers, editors and content creators whose work helps audiences engage with mental health in a more informed and compassionate way. We look forward to seeing the range and quality of work submitted this year across all platforms at both national and regional levels.”

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Award Categories

The 2026 Shine Mental Health Media Awards will recognise excellence across the following categories:

• Print & Online | National
• Print & Online | Local
• Print & Online | Special Interest
• Broadcasting | Long Form
• Broadcasting | Short Form
• Digital Content
• Student Journalism Award | in partnership with TheJournal.ie
• Mental Health Series | supported by HSE Mental Health Engagement & Recovery
• Youth Mental Health Media Award | supported by spunout (NEW for 2026)
• Shine Audience Choice Award
• Mental Health Champion

The Mental Health Champion is awarded on the day and is not open for entry. It recognises a media professional whose body of work has made an outstanding contribution to improving public understanding of mental health. In 2025, the award was presented to Ann Murphy of The Irish Examiner.

Shine also recognises the important contribution of people who share their lived experience through the media. Nominees for this recognition are drawn from entries across the other categories.

The Shine Audience Choice Award will open to a public vote in October.

Winners will be announced at an event in Dublin on 2 December 2026.

To find out more about the awards, visit shine.ie/awards.