Veganuary is back for its 12th year, and once again, the campaign—which encourages people to ditch animal products for the month of January—has enlisted a host of celebrities to help spread the message.
For 2026, actors Matthew Modine and Elaine Hendrix are joining the campaign, alongside content creator Priyansh Parekh (better known online as the Tofu King); writer, broadcaster, and disability advocate Samantha Renke; British soap actor Victoria Ekanoye; and novelist Jane Fallon.
Veganuary
Speaking about his decision to join Veganuary for 2026, Modine—who stars as Dr. Brenner in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things—highlighted the urgency of reducing animal consumption for the sake of the planet.
“We humans have evolved into super consumers of everything the earth we share has to offer. In doing so, we’ve simultaneously evolved into something like the equivalent of a life destroying comet,” Modine said in a statement to Veganuary.
“Cutting back on the consumption of animal flesh is a very tiny step each of us can take to make the planet more sustainable and humane,” he continued. “Take a moment to learn more about proactive steps you can take by following Veganuary.”
His comments echo previous statements issued by Veganuary ambassadors like Joaquin Phoenix, Billie Eilish, and Paul McCartney.
“By replacing meat consumption with plant-based foods, together, we can give the Earth a fighting chance,” Eilish has previously said.
Actor Olivia Colman is also supporting the Veganuary 2026 campaign by contributing her own tadka dal recipe to the Veganuary 2026 Celebrity eCookbook. Hendrix has also shared a recipe for sugar-free chocolate mousse.
Veganuary expands again for 2026
This year, Veganuary is hoping to build on the momentum of recent years. In 2025, the organization reported that 25 million people worldwide took part, up from 700,000 sign-ups in 2023.
The jump reflects a new method of estimating participation. Last year, the campaign commissioned nationally representative surveys across 11 core countries. The updated figure is based on those results, combined with population data from each country.
Jackie Sobon
For 2026, Veganuary has expanded further into Iceland and Ireland and made its pledge available in a new language: Hindi.
“Most people already love animals, care about their health, and are thinking about how to live more lightly on the planet,” said CEO Wendy Matthews. “This January, we’re here to help you make small shifts that reflect what you already care about most. It’s less about changing and more about returning to who you already are.”
It’s not too late to get involved. Participants can still sign up to take the Veganuary pledge and access free resources, including meal plans and the celebrity cookbook.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
