The New York Festivals Advertising Awards has announced its special awards celebrating companies whose award-winning work exemplifies creativity, innovation, and effectiveness on a global stage. Recipients of the 2026 Industry Awards are determined by the total number of top-scoring entries earning trophies evaluated by the New York Festivals 2026 Executive Jury.

Agency of the Year: HeimatTBWA\ Berlin

HeimatTBWA\ Berlin delivered an outstanding performance for its client, HORNBACH, earning 2 Grand Towers, 9 Gold Towers, 3 Silver Towers, and 7 Finalist Awards.

“Winning a double Grand Prix besides 9 Golds is a wonderful thing. Being named Agency of the Year is something else entirely. Because it celebrates the people and all their decisions that made our winning work possible,” stated Guido Heffels, chief creative for HORNBACH, founder at HEIMAT Berlin

Agency Network of the Year: VML

VML has shown award-winning excellence across multiple categories, earning an impressive haul of 3 Grand Towers, 8 Gold Towers, 5 Silver Towers, 9 Bronze Towers, and 29 Finalist Awards.

“Being named Agency Network of the Year is an incredible honour and a reflection of what’s possible when world-class talent relentlessly pursues big, human-first ideas. NY Festivals occupies a unique place in our industry, because it holds the work to a New York standard—the place where culture, creativity, and the world’s biggest brands collide. With top honors across New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, and Detroit, it’s a testament to the talent, craft, and commitment across the VML global creative community,” commented Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer at VML

Brand of the Year: HORNBACH

HORNBACH, one of Germany’s leading DIY chains, has been named Brand of the Year, recognized for its outstanding creative campaigns and consistent excellence across all media. The award highlights HORNBACH’s ability to stand out across the competition through impactful storytelling and consistently strong, creatively driven marketing.

Production Company of the Year: Tempomedia Filmproduktion

Tempomedia Filmproduktion delivered standout work for HORNBACH, earning an impressive 2 Grand Towers, 9 Gold Towers, 3 Silver Towers, and 7 Finalist Awards. The German production company is known for its cinematic approach to commercial filmmaking and branded content.

“For us, being recognised with an award like this as a German production is an absolute dream. Projects with this level of ambition and respect for pure craft don’t come along very often, and it’s a privilege to be allowed to execute an idea in such a detailed, hands‑on way. We’re incredibly proud of the trust the agency and client placed in us and grateful for the chance to gather such an outstanding team around this film. It was a hell of a ride but worth every meter and that’s exactly what makes our job worth doing,”  stated Vera Portz, executive producer and partner at Tempomedia 

2026 LTX Competition: Grabarz & Partner, Almost Human for German Depression Foundation

Grabarz & Partner has earned top honors in the LTX Competition, receiving a New York Festivals Gold Tower along with 60 million LTX credits for its campaign, Almost Human, created for the German Depression Foundation.

Now in its second year, the NYF and LTX Studio partnership challenges creative teams to explore the future of AI-driven storytelling by producing a 30-second film for a nonprofit organisation using LTX Studio, a co-pilot platform for agencies, filmmakers, and marketers. The tool enables users to develop characters, design scenes, map story arcs, and build immersive visual worlds within a single integrated environment.

All entries were reviewed and debated live by the NYF 2026 Executive Jury, led by Andrea Diquez, Global CEO of GUT. Grabarz & Partner’s winning entry was recognised by the jury for its innovation in storytelling and creative execution.

“We are really happy by this recognition; especially because it allows us to continue supporting the German Depression Foundation with the help of the awesome LTX AI capabilities and the prestigious New York Festivals. And thus to keep raising awareness about this complex and insidious illness,” stated Ralf Heuel, CCO, partner & co-founder at Grabarz & Partner

2026 NYF Cristal Village Award, Klick Health, 18 Months for Second Nurture

Now in its second year, the NYF Cristal Village Award, presented in partnership with the African Cristal Festival, celebrates outstanding creative work that educates for good, bridges cultures, and inspires meaningful change. It recognises brands and experiential campaigns that bring purpose-driven creativity to life across all channels, connecting audiences through powerful storytelling, cultural collaboration, and positive impact. The 2026 Cristal Village Award was won by 18 Months by Klick Health for client Second Nurture, for its work that exemplifies the spirit of creativity with purpose.

“The Cristal Village Award aims to recognise work which challenges norms, shifts thinking and changes behaviour. Our esteemed judges were unanimous that 18 months reimagines the idea of family and is a story of humanity and people bonding for life. A true story speaking to a real need in society,” commented Justin Thomas-Copeland, president of the jury, Cristal Village Award Chair, African Cristal Festival.

The New York Festivals Advertising Awards competition receives entries from seven continents and is judged by an international jury of more than 350 members of NYF’s Executive Jury, Specialty Executive Juries, and Shortlist Jury. New York Festivals jury panels collectively cast their votes to select the year’s trophy-winning work.

Find more information about the 2026 NYF Advertising Awards and view the 2026 winners’ showcase, visit here.