BBC Children in Need 2026
November 13
About BBC Children in Need 2026
BBC Children in Need 2026 is Friday 13 November 2026. The appeal night is always a Friday in mid-November, and the 2026 date is confirmed on the BBC Children in Need website, with the live appeal show on BBC One from 7pm.
| Year | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday 13 November 2026 | Confirmed by BBC Children in Need |
| 2027 | Friday 12 November 2027 | Expected (mid-November Friday, not yet announced) |
| 2028 | Friday 17 November 2028 | Expected (mid-November Friday, not yet announced) |
What is BBC Children in Need?
BBC Children in Need is the BBC’s UK charity, and its annual appeal is one of the biggest fundraising days in the British calendar. Since the first televised appeal in 1980 it has raised well over £1 billion for projects that support children and young people across the UK who are facing disadvantage, disability, illness, poverty or trauma. The charity’s mascot, Pudsey Bear, with his spotted bandana, is recognised by almost every child in the country.
The appeal builds through the autumn with challenges on BBC radio and television, fundraising in schools and workplaces, and the release of an official single, before the live appeal show on the Friday night. Grants are then awarded to local charities and community groups. Details of the 2026 show, fundraising packs and where the money goes are on the official BBC Children in Need website.
Why it matters
Around 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty, and many more face challenges with mental health, disability or life at home. BBC Children in Need funds thousands of small, local projects that national services cannot reach: youth clubs, breakfast provision, counselling, respite care, young carers’ groups and play schemes. Because the appeal is so visible, it also gives children a very early, very positive experience of giving and of understanding that other children’s lives can be very different from their own.
For schools: assembly, classroom and PTA ideas
In most schools the appeal is owned by the PTA or the school council with a staff lead, and it is usually planned in October so that a non-uniform day, letters home and cash or online collection are ready for the Friday.
- Assembly: a Pudsey-themed launch assembly using the official schools film, explaining in simple terms what the money pays for.
- Assembly: a “big reveal” assembly the following week announcing the total raised and thanking classes.
- Classroom: the free primary and secondary lesson resources on empathy, kindness and how charities work.
- Classroom: a maths lesson costing a fundraising plan and calculating what the class total could fund.
- Whole school: a spotty or pyjama non-uniform day, a Pudsey ears day or a sponsored silence.
- Parents and PTA: a bake sale at pick-up time, a “guess the number of spots” jar or a raffle, with an online giving page so parents can donate by card.
Ideas for brands and organisations
- Run a team fundraising challenge with matched giving from the company.
- Offer a percentage of sales on the Friday to the appeal, promoted in store and online.
- Host a spotty dress-down day or quiz for staff with a donation to take part.
- Sponsor a local school’s fundraising, for example by providing prizes or printing.
Frequently asked questions
When is BBC Children in Need 2026?
The 2026 appeal show is on Friday 13 November 2026 on BBC One, with fundraising running through the weeks before.
Who is Pudsey Bear?
Pudsey is the charity’s mascot, first introduced in 1985 and named after the Yorkshire town where his designer was born. His bandana is spotted and he is joined by Blush, a female bear introduced in 2009.
How do schools register to fundraise?
Schools can download free fundraising packs and resources from the BBC Children in Need schools page and pay in what they raise online.
Published 28 August 2026: dates checked for 2026 to 2028.
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