ADC Opened Entries for 106th Annual Awards
The nonprofit organization has launched its call for submissions across diverse creative and advertising disciplines.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Advertising
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The Art Directors Club has opened entries for its 106th Annual Awards, a program that has recognized global creative excellence since 1920. The organization also released its new In Search of What's Next campaign to highlight the upcoming competition.
Why it matters
Revenue generated from these award entries directly funds essential education, mentorship, and professional development programs for the global creative community. These initiatives help support the next generation of designers and advertisers entering the industry.
The awards program has been active since 1920 and encompasses a wide range of disciplines including design, AI, gaming, and architecture. Entry revenue supports various nonprofit educational and professional development programs throughout the year.
The players
Art Directors Club
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting creative excellence in design and advertising.
DixonBaxi
This London-based creative agency produced the In Search of What's Next entry campaign for the awards.
The One Club
This global organization facilitates the awards and recently entered a new partnership agreement with CapCut.
The details
The program has introduced new packaging design categories, including options for new product launches, packaging effectiveness, and unboxing experiences. Additionally, typography and type design have been combined into single disciplines under one jury, while a new partnership with CapCut has been finalized.
Timeline
November 2026: Jury Presidents will be announced.
January 2027: Full jury will be announced.
January 22, 2027: Regular entry deadline.
March 5, 2027: Final entry deadline.
May 19, 2027: Winners ceremony during Creative Week 2027.
Market Landscape
This program follows the established industry pattern where entry revenue directly funds professional development and mentorship initiatives. By diversifying categories to include AI and gaming, the organization maintains its competitive standing against other global creative awards.
Creative professionals and smaller agencies can take advantage of a tiered pricing structure designed to provide discounted entry rates. Prospective entrants should prepare their work submissions before the regular deadline on January 22, 2027, to avoid higher costs.
The takeaway
The competition serves as a critical bridge between established professionals and emerging talent through its emphasis on education and mentorship. Designers should consider the new category specifications when selecting their entries to better align with the updated judging criteria.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the creative sector on our Advertising section page.
More information
Submit your work or review the program requirements through the ADC awards entry portal.
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