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More than 100 technology companies have signed up for Boycott Your Bed 2026, a charity sleepout expected to bring together more than 500 participants across four UK cities.
Participants from companies including Accenture, PwC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Siemens and Barclays are due to spend a night outdoors as part of the annual fundraiser for Action for Children. The event will take place in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Leeds.
Now in its 29th year, Boycott Your Bed has become a longstanding fixture in parts of the UK technology sector. Organisers say it has raised GBP £14.6 million for Action for Children since launching in 1998.
The sleepout aims to raise both money and awareness for vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. Action for Children operates 342 services in communities, schools and online, and says it helped more than half a million children, young people and families in the last year.
Recent government figures cited by organisers show that more than four million children in the UK are growing up in poverty. Against that backdrop, the event asks participants to spend one night outside as a reminder of the insecurity some families face.
Although the fundraiser is open to individuals and teams from any industry, it has attracted strong backing from the technology community for nearly three decades. This year's participating businesses also include Capgemini, Red Hat, Burberry, Specsavers, Irwin Mitchell, Kier Group and Sparta Global.
Organisers present the event as both a fundraising effort and a meeting point for people across the sector. Its mix of senior leaders, partners, customers and technology professionals has helped give the sleepout a profile beyond that of a conventional charity initiative.
Sector gathering
The level of corporate involvement suggests companies still see value in cause-led events that also create space for professional networking. In a market where firms face pressure to show social impact while maintaining industry ties, Boycott Your Bed has carved out a role that does both.
That dual purpose appears to be part of the event's staying power. With registrations still open for a limited period, organisers expect further sign-ups before the sleepout takes place.
For Action for Children, the event provides a significant fundraising channel linked to a business audience with long-standing ties to the charity. For participating companies, it offers a visible way to support a national children's charity while bringing staff and contacts together in an informal setting.
The format is simple: individuals and teams commit to one night outdoors in organised sleepouts staged simultaneously across the four cities, with fundraising tied to participation.
Long record
Boycott Your Bed began as a campaign to raise awareness and funds and has grown into one of the larger recurring charity gatherings associated with the UK technology industry. Organisers say more than 100 companies have already registered for this year's edition.
The range of names on the participant list points to support from consulting firms, financial services groups, industrial businesses and software companies. That gives the event a broader corporate base than a niche sector fundraiser, even though its roots remain closely tied to the technology industry.
Ken Deeks, vice president and founder of Boycott Your Bed, commented on the scale of support and the purpose behind the event. "Understanding the reality of these challenges has been both eye-opening and deeply moving. Boycott Your Bed raises awareness of issues that can often remain hidden from view. The response from the technology community continues to be incredible, with more than 100 companies already signed up and many more expected to join before October. We anticipate more than 500 sleepers on the night, creating a fantastic opportunity for people from across the sector to come together. Importantly, sleepers will play a direct role in supporting Action for Children's work with vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK," Deeks said.