During November, December and January every year, our Judges seek to visit well over 200 professional pantomime venues, looking for nominations for the UK Pantomime Awards.
Applications are now open for Judges for the 2026/27 pantomime season. We aim to ensure our team of Judges represents the diverse nature of pantomime adventures and welcome applications from people who have experience which might include:
- Professional pantomime performance or production credit
- Journalistic or reviewing background
- Seasoned audience members with a critical eye
This year we are particularly looking for Judges in the following regions:
- Scotland (Highlands, Islands and Borders)
- Northern Ireland
- Wales (Mid, West and North Wales)
- South West England (Cornwall and Devon)
- North West England (Cumbria and the Lake District)
- UK Islands and Remote Communities (Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Orkney, Shetland, Hebrides and Channel Islands)
What will a judge be required to do?
- Attend a training session about the judging process and be shown how to use The Pantomime Awards portal.
- Watch an agreed number of performances within their region.
- Commit time to complete and submit a show report via The Pantomime Awards portal.
Benefits of being a judge
All judges are volunteers, however we are able to offer the following benefits as a gesture of thanks for time given to the judging process:
- Judges’ training day, including lunch, special guest Q&A and networking opportunities.
- Complimentary tickets for pantomime performances within an agreed region.
- An invitation to The Pantomime Awards judging conference.
- Tickets for The Pantomime Awards ceremony.
How to apply
To apply to be a Judge for The Pantomime Awards, please complete the complete application form. Applications close on Sunday 12 July 2026.
We aspire to engage Judges from a diverse group of volunteers. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and acknowledge the importance of lived experience, as well as the significant role local audiences play in regional pantomime’s production and reception.
Applications are especially welcome from disabled and neurodiverse individuals, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and people from the global majority, in particular those with African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian or South East Asian heritage, as these voices are currently underrepresented in our team.