Special Australia Won Grand Effie at 2026 APAC Awards
The agency took the top prize for an Uber campaign, leading a strong showing for Australian firms in the regional contest.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Advertising
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Special Australia claimed the Grand Effie at the 2026 APAC Effie Awards for its 'Get Almost Almost Anything' campaign with Uber. The agency also secured titles for Agency of the Year and Independent Agency of the Year.
Why it matters
The Effie Awards honor marketing campaigns based on proven effectiveness, providing a benchmark for the advertising industry across the Asia-Pacific region. Success in these awards influences the annual Effie Index, which ranks agencies globally based on their creative and commercial impact.
Of the 121 finalists recognized at the 2026 APAC Effie Awards, 67 agencies received metal honors, including 15 Gold, 20 Silver, and 31 Bronze awards. Australian agencies accounted for 11 of these total wins.
The players
Special Australia
This creative agency was honored as both Agency of the Year and Independent Agency of the Year.
Leo Sydney
The firm earned the title of Agency Network of the Year for the first time in the history of the regional competition.
Grab
This company was named Brand of the Year and Marketer of the Year for its performance and campaign reach.
Uber
This global technology company collaborated with Special Australia on the award-winning 'Get Almost Almost Anything' campaign.
The details
Special Australia outperformed other contenders in the region to earn the prestigious Grand Effie, while Leo Sydney achieved the milestone of becoming the first Agency Network of the Year in the history of the APAC Effie Awards. Grab was also recognized, earning both Brand of the Year and Marketer of the Year status following jury deliberations.
Timeline
Winners were announced at the 2026 APAC Effie Awards on September 28, 2026.
The 2026 Effie Index is scheduled for announcement in 2027.
Market Landscape
These awards provide critical data points for the 2026 Effie Index, which serves as the industry standard for measuring marketing effectiveness. The outcome helps reposition winning firms like Special Australia and Leo Sydney within the highly competitive Asia-Pacific advertising market.
For consumers and marketing professionals, these awards highlight the brands and agencies currently setting the standard for communication. Understanding these industry leaders can provide insight into which advertising strategies will likely dominate future media campaigns and brand messaging.
The takeaway
Marketing awards serve as a key signal for identifying top-tier creative talent in the advertising sector. Businesses looking to engage agencies can utilize these ranked results to gauge which firms demonstrate the highest return on campaign investment.
What happens next
The final 2026 Effie Index rankings, which incorporate points earned during this awards cycle, will be officially announced in 2027.
Further reading
For more on industry benchmarks and creative trends, explore our Advertising section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Campaign Brief.
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