The 2026 American Advertising Awards: mAD Science
This year, we’re celebrating the mAd Science of advertising—the creative chemistry, the bold experiments, and the brilliant minds that mix insight and inspiration to produce extraordinary results. It’s time to submit your work and prove your hypothesis.
The call for entries is now open. All entries and judging will be conducted digitally. No physical submissions will be accepted.
Final Entry Deadline: January 15, 2026
Official Rules & Guidelines:
American Advertising Awards Celebration: February 28, 2026, at Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs.
(Ticket link coming soon!)
Professional Entry Pricing
- Member Single: $100
- Member Campaign: $150
- Non-Member Single: $200
- Non-Member Campaign: $250
Student Entry Pricing
- Single: $25
- Campaign: $50
About The Competition
Join us to celebrate the winners on February 28, 2026, at Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs.
The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. Check back often for updates for times and locations.
Mission: Recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.
Professionals
Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win awards and recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of the 15 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in your local Ad Club competition is the first step toward winning a national award.
Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.
The selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A GOLD award is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a SILVER award. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.
Students
The AAF Student American Advertising Awards Competition, sponsored by the AAF and National Ad 2, is a unique national awards program designed especially for college students. Work entered at your local level can move up to the regional and national judging, just like the work entered by professionals across the country. Applicants must be enrolled full- or part-time in an accredited U.S. educational institution. Student interns are eligible to enter. Submit work developed specifically for this competition or from previous projects or student contests (work must be created while the entrant is a student not employed in the advertising industry). National winning entries may receive the following:
- Finalist certificate—great for résumés and portfolios
- Prestigious Student American Advertising Award for first-place winners
- $1,000 cash prize for National Best of Show winner
American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local chapter competitions. Conducted annually in March, the local chapter competition is the first of a three-tier, national competition.
Tier 1 | Local entrants vie to win awards – recognition as the very best in their markets.
Tier 2 | The local Gold winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions – AAF Colorado is in District 12.
Tier 3 | District winners are then forwarded to the National stage of the American Advertising Awards to compete against the nations’ best creative.
Being a part of the local competition supports the entire advertising industry. AAFCO and our district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance educational programs, public service, and collaboration.