Entries are now open for the 2026 Australian Effie Awards, where marketers and agencies can submit their strongest work to the industry’s benchmark for marketing effectiveness.
Tony Hale, CEO of Advertising Council Australia describes the Effies as “the industry’s clearest validation that disciplined marketing delivers real business results.”
This year’s program is supported by a new campaign ‘The Proof is in the Effie’ from BMF Australia, 2025’s Effective Agency of the Year.
The campaign highlights the key ingredients behind successful entries – work with real substance, not just frosting – and the reward once you have the right mix of marketing.
“The Proof is in the Effie reinforces what these awards have always stood for,” Hale said.
The 2026 program expands opportunities for brands, creative and media agencies to collaborate, reflecting the growing influence of media strategy, data and partnerships in driving effectiveness.
New categories for 2026 include International Marketing, Health Marketing, Sponsorship Activity and Best New Entrant (sponsored by Google). Updated and specialist categories, including Media-Led Ideas, Data-Driven and Performance Marketing, further reflect the role of integrated thinking in delivering growth.
Josh Faulks, CEO, AANA, said: “Demonstrating effectiveness has never been more critical. The Effies matter because they bring clarity by linking strategy, investment, and execution directly to results. That discipline matters now more than ever.”
ACA will host the annual Effie: How To Webinar on 24 March, covering entry structure, judging criteria and case writing. Previous winning case studies are available to ACA members, with last year’s work showcased at Inside Effectiveness next week in Sydney (24 February) and Melbourne (26 February).
Entries are open across more than 30 categories with a submission deadline of Monday 4 May.
