On November 21, the IDFA Audience Award will be presented during a festive ceremony, followed by a screening of the winning film. After attending an eligible screening, audiences can cast their vote via email. The winner of the IDFA Audience Award will be announced on Friday, November 20.

All new feature-length documentaries (produced in 2025 or later) in the following program sections are eligible for the Audience Award: International Competition, Envision Competition, Luminous, Frontlight, Best of Fests, Signed, and Paradocs.

All screenings up to the voting deadline are eligible, except screenings followed by a talk and the world premiere of a Dutch production. Dutch co-productions are eligible.