ADCE Awards 2026: New Rules Open Up the European Competition

The Art Directors Club of Europe has officially opened the submission period for the 2026 ADCE Awards. The 35th edition of the competition brings significant changes: new rules for participation, a new discipline, and additional categories designed to more broadly reflect the spectrum of European creativity.

ADCE Awards 2026 Open to All Contestants for the First Time

Until now, submissions to the ADCE Awards were reserved exclusively for winners of national and regional competitions. Starting with this year’s edition, a new rule applies: All participants in eligible local and national competitions in Europe can submit their work—regardless of whether they received an award. This is intended to make the competition significantly more accessible and to highlight a broader spectrum of European creative work at the European level.

Entries are accepted from participants in competitions organized by the 25 member clubs of the ADCE, as well as from selected eligible competitions organized by non-member organizations in Europe. The complete list of eligible competitions and the submission guidelines will be available on the official ADCE platform. The final submission deadline is September 25, 2026.

New Category: Creativity by Industry Sector

One of the key innovations of the 2026 ADCE Awards is the introduction of the «Creativity by Industry Sectors» category. This new perspective is designed to evaluate creative work through the lens of industry-specific challenges and opportunities. The discipline comprises 40 categories across eight sectors: Consumer Goods, Health Care, Automotive & Mobility, Finance, Insurance & Retail, Technology & Media, Travel, Leisure, HORECA & Education, Entertainment & Culture, and Sports.

According to the ADCE, the new category takes into account the strategic and cultural context behind each submitted project, thereby adding a cross-sectoral dimension to the existing evaluation criteria.

New Categories in Existing Disciplines

In addition to the new discipline, additional categories have been introduced in several existing categories. In the Interactive & Mobile category, these include Creative Data, Multi-Platform Experience, Innovative Use of Technology, Gaming, and Technological Craft. In the Brand Development & Experience category, the categories Projects, B2B and Collaboration, and Creative Strategy have been added.

In addition, a new «Local Insight» category has been introduced across all existing disciplines. It is intended to recognize projects rooted in local culture, community, and regional context—a commitment by ADCE to the diversity of European creativity.

Jury, Gala, and ADCE Creative Week

The jury for the 2026 ADCE Awards, composed of leading creatives and designers from across Europe, will first meet online for two rounds in October. The third and final round will take place in person at the Disseny Hub Barcelona in November—as part of ADCE Creative Week. This final jury session will once again be open to the public: Visitors will be able to watch the presentation of the Special Awards and the Grand Prix live.

The winners of the 2026 ADCE Awards will be announced at the ADCE Awards Gala on November 20, 2026, the closing event of Creative Week. According to ADCE, the Creative Week program also includes talks, exhibitions, networking events, workshops, and the ADCE Student Awards ceremony.

ADCE Awards and The One Club Global Creative Rankings

All winners of the ADCE Awards contribute points to The One Club for Creativity’s Global Creative Rankings—an internationally recognized ranking system for the advertising and design industries. The rankings compile results from major international competitions, including The One Show, the ADC Annual Awards, the ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club competitions, and the ADCE Awards. This provides European agencies, brands, and creatives with international visibility.

More information about the 2026 ADCE Awards is available on the official platform: https://adce.eu