Anticipation is building ahead of tonight’s gala awards ceremony as the B&T Awards celebrates its seventh outing with the biggest field of entrants across its expanded 26 categories.

A record number of entries were received again this year and two new categories were added to the line-up, one for media and one celebrating the best of social media.

Be sure to follow the Awards on Twitter using the hashtag #bandtawards you can also stay up to date with who the gongs are being handed to on B&T's Facebook page here. 

The B&T Awards have made a name for themselves as being the most robust, rigorous and prestigious agency awards in Australia, with judging taking place over two rounds, with finalists in the agency, marketing team and employer of the year categories invited to present to a live panel of expert judges.

A new category this year is the Best Use of Social Media, which gives a voice to this burgeoning section of the industry as brands look to transform their online profiles.

Another change is the introduction of a Media Agency Network of the Year category, to showcase the strongest agencies in multiple states, while the Media Agency category will be split into NSW, Victoria and other states and territories highlighting the work of individual offices.

All other awards have remained unchanged.

The event itself will be held at Sydney’s Star City Casino and a sell out crowd of more than 800 guests are expected to brave the thunderstorms predicted for the evening.

Be sure to follow the Awards on Twitter using the hashtag #bandtawards you can also stay up to date with who the gongs are being handed to on B&T's Facebook page here. 

2013 B&T AWARDS SHORTLISTS

Advertising Agency of the Year

• Clemenger BBDO Australia
• DDB Group
• McCann Australia
• The Monkeys
• The Works
• Whybin/TBWA Group

DM Agency of the Year

• Lavender
• RAPP Australia
• The Works
• WiTH Collective

Emerging Agency of the Year

• CHE Proximity
• CumminsRoss
• Maud
• The Remarkables Group
• Zoo Melbourne

Experiential Agency of the Year

• e2
• Momentum Worldwide
• Play Communications
• Spinifex Group
• Urban

Interactive Agency of the Year

• Leo Burnett Sydney
• Pusher
• Soap Creative
• Visual Jazz Isobar
• WiTH Collective

Media Network

• MEC
• MediaCom
• UM Australia

Media Agency of the Year

• Carat Melbourne
• Hyland Media
• MediaCom
• PHD Melbourne
• UM Sydney

 NSW Agency of the Year

• Clemenger BBDO Sydney
• Leo Burnett Sydney
• The Hallway
• The Monkeys
• The Works Sydney
• Whybin/TBWA Sydney

PR Agency of the Year

• Edelman Public Relations
• Mango Australia & New Zealand
• One Green Bean
• PPR
• Red Agency

Promotional Marketing Agency of the Year

• 31st:Second
• Below The Line
• Momentum Worldwide
• The Works

QLD Agency of the Year

• GPY&R Brisbane
• Pusher Brisbane

Specialist Agency of the Year

• e2
• Maud
• Naked Communications
• Play Communications
• WiTH Collective

VICTORIAN Agency of the Year

• CHE Proximity
• Clemenger BBDO Melbourne
• DDB Melbourne
• Leo Burnett Melbourne
• McCann Melbourne

Best Ad Campaign

• Bundaberg Rum ‘Bundy Road to Recovery’ – Leo Burnett Sydney
• Metro Trains ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ – McCann Australia
• SEEK ‘SEEK Volunteer’ – Leo Burnett Melbourne
• Virgin Mobile Australia ‘Doug Pitt’ – Havas Worldwide Sydney & One Green Bean

Best Digital Campaign

• Boost Mobile ‘Stay Living’ – The Monkeys
• McDonalds ‘Track My Macca’s – DDB Sydney
• Metro Trains ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ – McCann Australia
• OAK ‘Reverse Robbers’ – The Monkeys
• Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation ‘100 Day Challenge’ – McCann Australia 

Best Media Campaign

• Ecco ‘World’s Longest Catwalk’ – UM
• Gatorade ‘Turning Cricket Athleticism into Business Success’ – PHD Network
• MLA – ‘Lambnesia’ UM
• News Limited – ‘Fast Front Pages’ – UM

Best PR Campaign

• Bundaberg Rum ‘Bundy Road to Recovery’ – Leo Burnett Sydney
• Department of Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ‘Impossible Orchestra’ –
• McCann Australia
• Metro St James ‘Pay With a Kiss’ – Lavender
• Metro Trains ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ – McCann Australia
• Save Our Sons ‘The Most Powerful Arm Ever Invented’ – Red Agency

Best Use of Social Media

• Metro Trains ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ – McCann Australia
• OAK ‘Reverse Robbers’ – The Monkeys
• Save Our Sons ‘The Most Powerful Arm Ever Invented’ – Havas Worldwide
• Xbox – ‘Crack the Code’ – Soap Creative

Best Use of Sponsorship

• ANZ ‘Australian Open’ – PHD Network
• McDonalds ‘McDonalds Gettin’ Serious’ – OMD
• NAB ‘NAB Stand-Ins’ – Clemenger BBDO Melbourne
• Qantas ‘Cricket Australia’ – ZenithOptimedia
• Samsung ‘Samsung Stadium’ – Razorfish and Octagon

Employer of the Year

• Clemenger BBDO Sydney
• Play Communications
• Soap Creative
• The Works
• WiTH Collective

Digital Services Company

• Reprise Media
• Big Mobile Group
• TubeMogul
• WeAreDigital

Marketing Team of the Year

• Audi Australia
• Cadbury
• Diageo
• Metro Trains
• St George

 Media Brand of the Year

• Adshel
• Multi Channel Network (MCN)
• NewsLife Media
• Seven West Media

Media Sales Team of the Year

• DMG Radio Australia
• Multi Channel Network (MCN)
• Nine Entertainment Co
• Seven West Media
• TubeMogul