CNN —
They may be your friends, colleagues, family members, or someone you read about.
They are CNN heroes, each showing how one person can truly make a difference.
This year, CNN is once again encouraging you to nominate everyday people who are changing the world at CNN.com/Heroes. By taking a few minutes to share their story with us, you could help raise their profile worldwide.
It’s easy to nominate someone whose work you admire. However, a thoughtful and well-written recommendation is essential to help your company stand out from the thousands of nominations we receive. Here are some suggestions that we think will help you create your shortlist for CNN Hero in 2026.
• Think about what makes your hero special. Ask yourself: What makes my candidate unique? Did they accomplish any tangible accomplishments that are truly noteworthy? How has their work impacted others? We encourage you to watch past CNN Heroes videos to learn more about the accomplishments of the inspirational people we celebrate as “Everyday People Changing the World.”
• See our nomination form. We recommend that you review the information requested about yourself, the candidate, and their job before completing your submission.
• Tell us about your hero. Take your time and write from the heart. Please remember. What you share in your own words is the most important factor in further consideration of a candidate. Answers to essay questions can be typed directly into the form, or you can first write them in a word processing document and then cut and paste them into each answer field. Please note that the information you provide will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.
• Click Send. If your recommendation is successfully submitted, you will see a “Thank you” message on your screen. This is the only confirmation you will receive. Yes, we read all nominations.
Q: Who qualifies to be considered a CNN hero?
A: Nominations must be in the name of a single individual who is 18 years of age or older, and some of the candidate’s activities must have taken place on December 6, 2025, or are ongoing. Groups and organizations will not be considered. Self-nominations will not be accepted. To learn more about eligibility requirements and other rules governing CNN Hero selection, please read our legal disclosures.
Q: How do I know if my hero has been selected?
A: Due to the large number of nominations we receive, we are unable to respond to each submission individually. However, if your nomination moves forward, we will contact you and your nominator through the contact information you provide.
Q: What if I don’t know the candidate’s address, email, or phone number?
A: Please try to provide as much contact information as possible. We require an email address or phone number so that we can quickly contact the candidate for permission to be considered as a CNN Hero.
Q: Can I submit additional supporting information about my candidate?
A: At the end of the form, there is space to provide a link to an article or website with more information about your hero. Please do not submit additional materials unless requested.
Q: Can I nominate my hero multiple times?
A: Please stop. The CNN Heroes team will read all nominations submitted. One well-written suggestion is enough. We do not recommend campaigns that support more than one individual. Additionally, the number of submissions made on behalf of that individual will not affect the selection process.
Q: Can I send my recommendation letter by mail or fax?
A: No. All nominations must be submitted online through our website.
Q: What if my nomination form is rejected?
A: Please note that certain information is required when filling out the form. These fields are marked with an asterisk
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CNN is not responsible for technical issues that may prevent your submission from being successfully submitted. First, you may want to write and save your answers to the essay questions in a word processing document. That way, if you need to resubmit your nomination, you can cut and paste those responses into the form without having to rewrite them.
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