The One Club for Creativity has announced the launch of a new Best Use of TikTok award as part of The One Show 2026, expanding its partnership with TikTok and opening up a free-entry opportunity aimed at recognising innovation in short-form video and creator-led storytelling.
The new award responds to the growing influence of TikTok in shaping culture, brand engagement and commercial outcomes. It is designed to recognise brands and creators that use the platform in ways that are native, authentic and effective, while delivering measurable impact. As a TikTok-sponsored special award, there is no fee to enter, lowering barriers to participation and widening access across the global creative community.
The Best Use of TikTok award will honour work that meaningfully embraces one or more of TikTok’s core creative pillars, including community engagement, discovery-driven insights, sound-led storytelling, co-creation with users, entertainment value and demonstrable business impact. Entries are expected to show how creativity on the platform translates into cultural relevance and tangible results.
Participants will be asked to submit a written overview of campaign background, creative idea, insights and strategy, execution and outcomes. Case studies are encouraged, with judging focused on indicators such as engagement, earned media, video performance, brand lift or sales results.
According to TikTok For Business, the award builds on a multi-year collaboration with The One Club that has focused on expanding access to creative careers and recognising new forms of storytelling. TikTok said the new award category reflects how brands and agencies are increasingly driving growth by leaning into platform-native creativity rather than traditional advertising formats.
The competition will be judged by The One Show 2026 Social Media and Creator Content jury and is open to a wide range of entrants, including global brands, agencies, small businesses and independent creators. Eligible work must have launched between 1 January 2025 and 20 February 2026, with the entry deadline set for 20 February 2026.
Finalists will be announced in early May 2026, with the winner revealed during The One Show 2026 awards ceremony on 15 May as part of Creative Week in New York.
The new award also aligns with The One Club’s broader focus on skills development, access and transformation within the creative industry. TikTok is a founding partner of the ONE Creator Lab, a free training programme launched in 2023 to help creators transition into agency and brand roles. To date, more than 120 young creators have completed the programme through cohorts in New York and Los Angeles, gaining industry exposure, mentorship and practical experience.
The One Club for Creativity is a non-profit organisation that reinvests revenue from its awards programmes into initiatives that support creative education, upskilling, career development and industry access worldwide. The introduction of a free-to-enter TikTok award reflects a growing emphasis on inclusivity, creator participation and recognising emerging forms of value creation within the global creative economy.
More information about the Best Use of TikTok award and entry details is available through The One Show 2026 platform.
