WARC Media 100: These are the best media agencies and campaigns in the world

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The WARC Media 100, the world's leading independent benchmark for the most awarded campaigns and companies in media, was published on March 13, 2026. The ranking aggregates the results of the most important global and regional media awards in 2025 and is compiled in collaboration with the WARC Rankings Advisory Board and an annual global panel survey.

Amy Rodgers, Head of Content at WARC Creative, explains: "The rapid evolution of the media landscape, driven by technology, changing consumer behaviors and new platforms, is fundamentally changing how brands and their partner agencies interact with audiences in meaningful and impactful ways. The WARC Media 100 celebrates the most awarded campaigns and companies at the forefront of these changes and will create inspiration and new opportunities for the industry."

Three central trends

This year's top 100 campaigns are characterized by three defining themes: Targeting fans in their language and reaching customers where they spend their time has become a core principle of effective marketing. With thousands of advertising messages every day, brands are increasingly relying on hidden advertising that attracts attention through surprise and curiosity. Campaigns also show how brands are driving social change through innovative media ideas - whether for women, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities or young people.

Campaign of the year: "Beauty Test Stops With Me" for Dove

The most awarded campaign for Media Excellence 2025 was "Beauty Test Stops With Me" for Dove, created by Mindshare Mumbai. Activated through a multi-channel approach, the campaign empowered mothers as key agents of cultural change by challenging beauty biases in the Indian matchmaking process.

Ailsa Lochrie, Client President at Unite, WPP Media, says: "To be at the top of the WARC Media 100 rankings with the Dove campaign 'Beauty Test Stops With Me' is a remarkable achievement and we are very proud of our partners at Hindustan Unilever who have brought about real change in India. Even more impressive is the approach. We take great pride in combining cultural nuance, strategic thinking and innovation to create measurable, profound impact."

In second place is "If you're into it. It's in the V&A" by PHD London. The campaign for the Victoria & Albert Museum in London used mass-reach channels, contextual channels and grassroots activations to appeal to younger target groups. In third place is "The Redditor Edit", also by PHD London for the car manufacturer Skoda. The campaign utilized the passionate fan base on Reddit and turned them into brand ambassadors.

PHD London tops the list of agencies for the first time

With four campaigns in the top 100, PHD London leads the media rankings for the first time, having previously reached third place in 2022. Paul Knight, CEO of PHD UK, comments: "To be ranked as the global number one agency in the WARC Media 100 is testament to the creative media skills and ingenuity of everyone at PHD UK, the clients who put their trust in us and the media owners and agency partners who have been instrumental in the success of our award-winning work."

Mindshare Mumbai rises from sixth place in the previous year to second place. In addition to the leading campaign for Dove, the agency has two other campaigns in the top 100. Mediaplus Munich achieves third place and leads the ranking of independent agencies for the fourth time in a row - with five campaigns in the ranking.

Max Schöngen, Global Chief Creative Officer & Partner of Mediaplus Group, said: "To see Mediaplus as the world's leading independent agency for four consecutive years in the WARC Media 100 is a testament to teams pushing boundaries with work that delivers real impact and growth for our clients. To also be ranked third overall sets the benchmark for creative media - and makes me incredibly proud of our teams, partners and clients."

Rethink Toronto and GUT São Paulo came second and third in the ranking of independent agencies.

Mindshare Worldwide best network for the fifth time

Mindshare Worldwide was named the most awarded media network for the fifth time. The network had fifteen campaigns in the top 100, with seven agencies worldwide contributing to the ranking: Mumbai, New York, London, Shanghai, Sydney, Warsaw and Jakarta.

Prasanth Kumar, CEO South Asia at WPP Media, says: "The work our clients and teams do to achieve these WARC recognitions takes exceptional courage and relentless ingenuity. Together with our clients, we are focused on accelerating business growth and inspiring our entire industry to embrace true transformation."

PHD Worldwide takes second place, followed by OMD Worldwide in third place. The Serviceplan Group leads the ranking of independent networks for an impressive ninth time in a row.

Alexander Schill, Global Chief Creative Officer & Partner of Serviceplan Group, comments: "To be ranked as the number one independent network in both the WARC Creative 100 and the Media 100 for the second year running means a lot to us and makes me really proud of our teams. It proves that creativity grows strongest where different disciplines and perspectives come together."

The new entry Cossette is in second place, with GUT in third.

WPP defends top position with holding companies

There has been no change at the top of the holding companies. WPP has held its leading position since 2018, when the Media 100 was launched.

Brian Lesser, Global CEO of WPP Media, said: "Topping the WARC Media 100 for the ninth consecutive year is an honor and a testament to the incredible clients, people and innovative work across the WPP network. In a world where media is truly everywhere and in everything, these awards are a powerful demonstration of how we create compelling work that is strategically brilliant, culturally relevant and deeply impactful."

Omnicom Group is in second place for its performance before the merger. Publicis Groupe ranks third.

Dove leads among brands, Unilever among advertisers

Dove is at the top of the brands for the third time in a row. The Unilever personal care brand has four campaigns in the top 100 and 14 in the complete Media 100 database. McDonald's is close behind in second place, up from fourth place last year. Coca-Cola jumps from ninth to third place. Newcomers to the top 50 include the British Heart Foundation, Heinz, Vaseline and Skoda.

Unilever has been the leading advertiser in the Media 100 for seven years in a row. The FMCG group is represented by 24 different brands in the full Media 100 database, with Dove, Vaseline, Knorr and OMO making it into the top 50 brands.

Leandro Barreto, Chief Marketing Officer at Unilever and Beauty & Wellbeing, says: "We are reshaping how our brands are present in people's lives - in the moments that really matter - and I couldn't be prouder of the way our teams are raising the bar in media. By combining precision, cultural expertise and bold thinking, we are achieving impact at scale, both commercially and culturally."

McDonald's climbs to second place, Volkswagen moves up to third place.

USA maintains leading position among countries

The US retains its first place - a position it has held since 2018, when the Media 100 was launched. 16 of the top 100 campaigns came from the US, including two of the top 10. The UK generated 11 of the top 100 campaigns. India remains in third place. Canada and Germany follow in fourth and fifth place.