UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 12, 2026

SmartKem, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Manchester Technology Center, Hexagon Tower

Delaunays Road, Blackley

Manchester, M9 8GQ U.K.

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

011-44-161-721-1514

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b - 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b - 2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

As previously reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by SmartKem, Inc. (the “Company”), on August 15, 2025, the Company received formal notice from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Company did not satisfy the applicable $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market or the alternative criteria under Listing Rule 5550(b) (the “Equity Rule”). The Company thereafter submitted its plan to regain compliance with the Equity Rule, subsequent to which the Company received an extension of 180 calendar days, through February 11, 2026, to regain compliance.

On February 12, 2026, the Staff notified the Company that, based upon the Company’s continued non-compliance with the Equity Rule, the Staff had determined to delist the Company’s securities from Nasdaq unless the Company timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”). The Company plans to timely request a hearing before the Panel, which request will stay any further suspension or delisting action by the Staff at least pending the hearing and the expiration of any extension the Panel may grant to the Company following the hearing. There can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company an extension or, if an extension is granted, that the Company will timely regain compliance and maintain its listing on Nasdaq.

This report contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the timing of the hearing and the timing of the decision of the Panel. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, the hearing may be scheduled, and the Panel may issue a decision, more quickly than expected based on the typical time periods in published Nasdaq guidance, which shorter timeline(s) may be unfavorable for the Company and the continued listing of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in this report, except as required by law.

Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.