For the fourth year, the Kindness Awards return with $10,000 in prizes, two tracks for creators and schools, and a stage on the iconic New York Times Square billboard.
Real "cool" has always been simple: it's being kind. For the fourth year running, Gan Jing World invites creators, students, and everyday changemakers around the world to prove it. The 2026–27 #BeKindBeCool Kindness Awards are officially open, with this year's call to action: Choose Kindness.
Kindness is always a choice — made in the little moments: a kind word, a helping hand. This year, we're inviting the whole world to make that choice and share it. Create something about kindness — a video, short, artwork, song, skit, or vlog — and post it on Gan Jing World with #BeKindBeCool between June 2026 and March 31, 2027 to be entered automatically. Entry is free, and you can submit as many pieces as you like.
Explore the prizes, past winners, and everything you need at the official event site: bekindbecool.world.
A movement that keeps growing
What began in 2023 as a single contest is now a worldwide movement. Across three years, the awards have gathered more than 34,000 acts of kindness from over 6,200 channels, in 11 languages, reaching audiences in 200+ countries and regions and generating over a billion impressions. Every year, winning entries light up the Times Square billboard in New York City, where winners gather to celebrate in person.
The 2025–26 edition was our biggest yet — drawing mega-creators and household names alongside classrooms on five continents. Winners included "Good Samaritan" BI Phakathi, viral changemaker Josh Nasar, and many more whose kindness reached millions. And 2026–27 is set to be bigger still.
Two ways to enter
Everyone competes through one of two tracks, and every entry uses the same hashtag, #BeKindBeCool.
🎬 Open Awards — for creators and the global community
Share a real act of kindness, tell us what kindness means to you, create a skit with a kindness message, or simply bring an uplifting theme to your usual vlogs and tutorials. All content types are welcome as long as your video inspires kindness. Open Awards entries compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
🎨 School Edition — for students and schools
Kindness is best learned young and lived together. Students in grades 1–12 can take part as individuals, classes, or whole schools in two ways:
- The Kindness Art Competition — illustrate "Acts of kindness — big or small" in any 2D medium, judged across four divisions (Grades 1–3, 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12). Participants compete for Art First Prizes and Excellence Awards.
- Kindness Videos — class projects, skits, and student films that build empathy and counter bullying. Video entries compete alongside creators in the Open Awards for Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Students and teachers enter the School Edition through a simple form (a parent/guardian signature is included). Teachers & parents: find the full classroom guide, FAQ, and entry form at bekindbecool.world/schools.
Prizes & awards — $10,000 total
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 🥇 Gold Prize | $2,000 (1 winner) |
| 🥈 Silver Prize | $1,000 (1 winner) |
| 🥉 Bronze Prize | $500 (10 winners) |
| 🎨 Art First Prize | $500 (4 winners — 1 per division) |
| 🎨 Art Excellence Awards | 1-year Gan Jing Kids Streaming membership ($88 value · up to 10 per division) |
Beyond cash, every winner is featured on the Times Square billboard, invited to the awards celebration in NYC, and recognized with Kindness certificates and coverage across Gan Jing World's partner media.
How entries are judged
Videos are scored 50% on creativity & quality (originality, production, storytelling) and 50% on popularity & engagement (views, likes, and engagement on Gan Jing World). Videos must be one minute or longer and posted with #BeKindBeCool during the event period.
Art Competition entries are judged on the kindness message, creativity, and artistic skill, within each grade division — so students compete with their own age group. To be judged, every art entry — online or offline — must include the student's initials and the school, studio, or group name.
Key dates
- June 2026 — Submissions open
- March 31, 2027 — Final deadline
- Spring 2027 — Winners announced on Gan Jing World Stories
- Summer 2027 — Times Square celebration and awards ceremony in NYC (details to come)
👉 Official event site: bekindbecool.world
👉 Enter now: post on Gan Jing World with #BeKindBeCool
Read more
Catch up on past #BeKindBeCool winners and celebrations:
- Gan Jing World Announces Winners of the Kindness Video Awards — 2025–26 winners
- Success of Kindness: 10 Million Views & 1 Billion Impressions — Celebrating Winners at Times Square — 2024–25 winners
- Teen Filmmaker Wins $10,000 for Championing Compassion at "Kindness Is Cool" — 2023–24 winner
About Gan Jing World
Gan Jing World is a video streaming and content sharing platform guided by its mission, “Technology for Humanity”—promoting kindness, respect, trust, and moral values. We prioritize meaningful, non-addictive, family-safe content while protecting user privacy.
Let's keep the kindness going. Choose kindness — and share it with the world. #BeKindBeCool
For media inquiries, contact [email protected].