AWARD Awards has announced its 2026 finalists. Bear Meets Eagle on Fire leads with 37 finalist entries, followed by McCann NZ with 36, Howatson+Company with 26, and VML with 24.

Find the full list of finalists here.

By category, entrants with the most finalist entries are:

• Classic: McCann New Zealand with 18; VML Australia with 13; Howatson+Company, Leo Australia and Special Australia all with 8.
• Design: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with 5; R/GA Australia with 3; Clemenger BBDO and KARMA both with 2.
• Craft: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with 18; The Sweetshop with 16; FINCH with 15; Revolver with 11, and Rumble Studios with 8.
• Film:  Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with 9; McCann New Zealand with 6; Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song, Special Australia and Clemenger BBDO all with 3.
• Brand Experience and Entertainment: Special Australia with 4; Howatson+Company, McCann New Zealand and +61 with 3.
• Social & Creator: Clemenger BBDO, Howatson+Company, McCann New Zealand and TBWA\Australia, all with 2.
• Innovation & Tech: Leo Australia with 2; Cocogun, Colenso BBDO, Innocean South Korea, Rumble Studios, TBWA\ Media Arts Lab ISEA and VML Australia all with 1.
• Media: Howatson+Company, Special Australia and VML Australia all with 2.
• Business to Business: Clemenger BBDO and McCann New Zealand both with 2; GIGIL and +61 both with 1.
• Creativity for Good: Leo Australia with 3; Motion Sickness with 2; Bastion, FLASH BOMBER, Rumble Studios and TBWA\Australia all with 1.
• Charity: Cheil Hong Kong and Howatson+Company both with 4; Ogilvy Australia and Supermassive both with 2.
• Creative Effectiveness: Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song, Leo Australia and VML Australia all with 3; Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, BMF, Colenso BBDO, Motion Sickness and Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand all with 2.
• The winners of the 47th AWARD Awards—including Gold, Silver, Bronze, and top-ranked Special Award recipients—will be revealed during a gala ceremony and afterparty being held at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday 13 August. Book tickets here.

2026 AWARD Awards Jury Chairs are:

• Advertising Communications: Gary Steele, McCann New Zealand
• Digital: Jonathan George, TBWA\ Media Arts Lab India
• Impact: Laura Aldington, Supermassive
• Sound: Tone Aston, Rumble Studios
• Life-Changing: Beth O’Brien, Princess – A Creative Company
• Design & Image Craft: Matty Burton, Omnicom Oceania
• Craft in Film: Damon Stapleton, Droga5 ANZ
• Film: Tom Martin, Special Australia
• Integrated, Innovation & Media Thinking: Emma Robbins
• Creative Effectiveness: Emily Taylor, Bureau of Everything

Find the full list of judges here.

Sponsors of the 47th AWARD Awards are Meta, LinkedIn, Outdoor Media Association, and Leonardo.Ai.