Categories

New in 2026: ADWEEK will be awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze distinctions to all categories.

1. Global Creative Agency: Open to agencies operating in multiple countries. Entrants should demonstrate a consistent ability to deliver culturally relevant, high-impact campaigns across multiple markets. 
    

2. U.S. Creative Agency: Open to U.S.-based agencies that have demonstrated outstanding performance, creative innovation, and measurable results over the past year. This category is open to agencies headquartered or primarily operating in the United States.
    

3. Midsize Creative Agency: Open to agencies with 150 to 500 employees. Winners must demonstrate extraordinary creativity, client impact, and business growth in the past year. 
    

4. Small Creative Agency: Open to agencies with fewer than 150 employees that have delivered big results with leaner teams. 
    

5. Breakthrough Creative Agency: Open to agencies launched in the last 5 years and that have experienced a breakout year in 2026.
    

6. Multicultural Creative Agency: Open to agencies that lead with cultural insight and authenticity to create work that resonates with diverse audiences. 
    

7. Independent Creative Agency: Open to agencies not owned by a holding company. This category rewards independent agencies that thrive creatively and commercially on their own terms.
    

8. Innovation Agency: Open to agencies pushing boundaries by using technology, data, and AI to help their clients get ahead.
    

9. Creator / Influencer Agency: Open to agencies at the forefront of social-first, influencer marketing. The winner must demonstrate breakthrough work that drives engagement, shapes culture, and delivers real results. 
    

10. Global Media Agency: Open to agencies with a multinational presence that specialize in media planning, buying, and strategy. Entries will be evaluated on the ability to deliver cohesive, culturally nuanced campaigns across multiple regions and drive measurable business results for clients. 
     

11. U.S. Media Agency: Open to agencies headquartered in the United States that specialize in media planning, buying, and strategy. The winner will have demonstrated a strategic approach to media planning and buying, creative use of emerging platforms, and meaningful outcomes for clients.
     

12. Independent Media Agency: Open to independently owned agencies (not belonging to a holding company) that specialize in media planning, buying, and strategy. The winner will have demonstrated a strategic approach to media planning and buying, creative use of emerging platforms, and meaningful outcomes for clients.
     

13. Performance Marketing Agency: Open to agencies that demonstrate a strong command of paid media, search, programmatic, and other performance channels, with a clear focus on ROI and business impact.