Branding awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and creativity, offering a platform for agencies and brands to showcase their innovative ideas in a wide range of categories, from brand identity and logo design to brand strategy and communications.

Not only do these awards provide recognition and visibility to the winners, but they also inspire and motivate the entire industry. Plus, the award parties offer great opportunities for networking!

Submissions are, in general, open to everyone, from small agencies to large brands.

So without further ado, let’s dive into the list of the most prestigious branding awards in the world.

World Branding Awards

The World Branding Awards is a global event organized by the World Branding Forum. It honors brands that have demonstrated exceptional performance in their fields. There are three tiers of awards: Global Awards are bestowed upon international brands, Regional Awards are given to brands that excel in multiple countries within a specific geographic region, and National Awards are presented to brands from participating countries.

• Who it is for: Brands and agencies
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Global, regional, and national awards
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around September)
• Location: Kensington Palace, London (UK); Hofburg, Vienna (Austria)
• Entry fee: Varies depending on the category
• URL to participate: World Branding Awards

Brand Impact Awards

The Brand Impact Awards honor the best creative excellence and consistency across branding from around the globe.

• Who it is for: Agencies, studios, and in-house design teams
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Type of campaign (e.g. brand strategy, illustration, motion, copywriting) and sector-focused categories (e.g. automotive, entertainment, non-profit)
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around September)
• Location: London, UK
• Entry fee: Depends on the size of the organization
• URL to participate: Brand Impact Awards

Best Brand Awards

Best Brand Awards is an international award that recognizes the concept and design of brands from around the globe. It awards the best brand agency and the best brand designer.

• Who it is for: Designers, brands, and agencies
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Logo New, Logo Redesign, Identity, Identity Redesign
• When it usually takes place: Annually, submissions start in March
• Location: Online
• Entry fee: Starts at €190 per entry
• URL to participate: Best Brand Awards

London International Awards (LIA)

The London International Awards is a global festival honoring creativity and new ideas in Advertising, Production, Digital, Design, Music & Sound, Technology, and Branded Entertainment. The LIA judging process requires that jurors are on-site for ALL judging. This practice ensures that all jurors see every piece of work. 

• Who it is for: Creative professionals, agencies, brands
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories across Branding, Design, and Advertising
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around October), submission deadline in June
• Location: Las Vegas, USA
• Entry fee: Starts at $400 per entry
• URL to participate: LIA Awards

Visual Identity Awards

The Visual Identity Awards is a competition that focuses exclusively on visual identity. The goal of the award is to provide an equal opportunity for all types of entry, from freelance designers to small design studios and large branding agencies.

• Who it is for: Studios, agencies, and freelancers
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: 21 sector-specific categories
• When it usually takes place: Winners are announced in the summer, submission deadline is the end of March
• Location: Online
• Entry fee: Starting from £60 per entry
• URL to participate: Visual Identity Awards

The BrandLaureate Awards

The BrandLaureate Awards celebrate brands that are market leaders in their respective industries. It is intended for brands only.

• Who it is for: Brands
• Region: Worldwide, focus on Asia
• Categories: Various categories across industries (e.g. best brand, SMEs, CSR)
• When it usually takes place: Annually
• Location: Malaysia
• Entry fee: Not publicly disclosed
• URL to participate: The BrandLaureate Awards

Agency Design Awards

The Agency Design Awards is open to all design agencies and studios of all sizes. It recognizes agencies that deliver excellent design work.

• Who it is for: Agencies and studios
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories across design (incl. Agency of the year, packaging design, brand redesign, graphic design, photography for identity, and typography)
• When it usually takes place: January, the submission deadline is December 1st
• Location: Online
• Entry fee: Starts from £135 per entry
• URL to participate: Agency Design Awards

Transform Awards

The Transform Awards recognizes excellence in rebranding, brand development, and the journey brands make.

• Who it is for: Brands and agencies
• Region: Europe, MENA, Asia-Pacific, North America
• Categories: Various categories, region-specific
• When it usually takes place: Annually (different for each region)
• Location: Various locations based on region
• Entry fee: Varies based on category
• URL to participate: Transform Awards

Red Dot Design Award

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions, recognizing quality in product design, brand & communication design, and design concepts.

• Who it is for: Brands, agencies, and designers
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Product Design, Brand & Communication Design, Design Concept
• When it usually takes place: Annually, dates vary by discipline
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Entry fee: Varies, starting from €195 for early bird submissions
• URL to participate: Red Dot Design Award

Clio Awards

The Clio Awards recognizes innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication.

• Who it is for: Agencies, brands, and designers
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories (e.g. Use of Technology, New Realities, Cultural Experiences, Activation, Events, Product Innovation)
• When it usually takes place: Annually in April, the submission deadline is in February
• Location: New York City, USA
• Entry fee: Starts from $525 per entry
• URL to participate: Clio Awards

D&AD Awards

The D&AD Awards recognize creative excellence in design and advertising. Its objective is to serve as a benchmark for commercial creativity.

• Who it is for: Designers, agencies, and brands
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories across Branding, Advertising, Design, Craft, Culture, Impact, etc.
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around May)
• Location: London, UK
• Entry fee: Starts from £115 per entry
• URL to participate: D&AD Awards

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

The Cannes Lions is a global event for those working in creative communications, advertising, and related fields. It’s the most prestigious advertising award.

• Who it is for: Brands, agencies, and designers
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories across Communication, Craft, Entertainment, Experience etc.
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around June)
• Location: Cannes, France
• Entry fee: Starts from €630 per entry
• URL to participate: Cannes Lions

The One Show

The One Show honors global creative excellence. It is a top global award show recognizing the best creative work in advertising, interactive, design, digital marketing, and branded entertainment.

• Who it is for: Agencies, brands, and designers
• Region: Worldwide
• Categories: Various categories across Advertising, Branded Entertainment, Interactive, Design, Music, and more
• When it usually takes place: Annually (around May)
• Location: New York City, USA
• Entry fee: Starts from $400 per entry
• URL to participate: The One Show

Best Branding Awards

The goal of the Best Branding Awards is to identify, evaluate and promote the best examples of branding excellence in Chile.

• Who it is for: Companies, startups, brand consultancies, marketing communications agencies, independent professionals
• Region: Chile
• Categories: Best new brand, best brand stretching, best rebrand, best brand experience, best startup brand
• When it usually takes place: Annually in August, submissions start in February
• Location: Santiago de Chile, Chile
• Submission fee: Around $250 per entry
• URL to participate: Best Branding Awards

Summary

There are many branding awards to choose from, and you should consider on a per-case basis where to submit your entry, as you need to spend time and money on each submission.

Whether you’re an agency or a brand, participating in these awards can, however, present a great return on your investment. Participation can significantly boost your visibility, credibility, and recognition, leading to new opportunities in the future.

Hence, it’s time to start getting your entries ready and aim for these prestigious branding awards!