The wait is over!
We're absolutely thrilled to unveil the finalists for the YouTube NZ Marketing Awards 2026.
Once again, we’ve had a record number of entries to the Awards, which celebrate strategy, campaigns and individuals across the marketing spectrum in Aotearoa. Now in its 35th year, this is the only awards programme in New Zealand to focus on the essential business disciplines and benefits of great marketing.
Event partners NZ Marketing magazine and the Marketing Association put out the call in March, asking marketers to showcase their best work across more than 30 categories. The entries flew in.
The first round of judging is now complete, with 96 brands represented as finalists across the Marketing Excellence, Campaign and Individual Awards. Several entrants received multiple nods from the judges, led by Auckland Transport with 15 and 2degrees with 11, with Spark New Zealand earning eight, seven apiece for Greyhounds as Pets, Trade Me, Whittaker's and Zuru Group, and six each for Goodman Fielder and Lion New Zealand.
Find the complete list of finalists for 2026 here.
“The competition becomes more intense every year, with record entries again in 2026. Congratulations to everyone who has been announced as a finalist today,” says NZ Marketing editor Penny Murray. “The Awards were set up 35 years ago to recognise the important role marketing strategy plays in building successful brands, and today that’s as crucial as ever.”
“The quality of work among today’s finalists is seriously impressive. It shows what great marketing can do—drive growth, deliver real commercial results and make a genuine difference to a business. Thank you to everyone who entered, and to our 140-plus judges, who had the incredibly tough job of narrowing such a strong field down to the final few,” says John Miles, CEO of the Marketing Association.
Awards Night is on Wednesday, September 2 at Spark Arena – it’s set to be an unmissable evening, so book now and take your place among Aotearoa’s best marketers. Buy tickets here.
For further information about the Awards, including a list of categories, specifics on the judging process and FAQs, visit the YouTube NZ Marketing website or email us.
The 2026 YouTube NZ Marketing Awards are proudly brought to you by naming sponsor YouTube, along with gold sponsors MediaWorks and oOh!media. Our silver sponsor is NZME, our category sponsors this year are Agency Directory, Dish magazine, SCG, Sky, StopPress, TRA and Vistar Media and beverage sponsors Lion, Pals and Clean Collective.
Producing the awards alongside NZ Marketing is long-time partner and industry body the NZ Marketing Association.
[ends]
Notes for editors:
About NZ Marketing
NZ Marketing magazine provides essential marketing intelligence through a highly practical editorial stance and in-depth examination of the latest marketing trends. This has earned the magazine a reputation for helping lift marketing standards in Aotearoa. Through its print publication and website, our mission is simple: to help marketers excel.
Publishing quarterly, the NZ Marketing team is skilled and creative, bringing high-quality, investigative editorial and commercial content alive across digital, social and events – providing our audience with the insight and expertise they need to drive the industry forward. nzmarketingmag.co.nz
About Marketing Association
The Marketing Association is the only New Zealand industry body dedicated to marketing. Its defined purpose is to help marketers be brilliant through a connected marketing community and world-class education and inspiration. As a membership body, the Marketing Association’s role is to help our 8,000+ members develop, connect, and have a voice.
The Marketing Association works tirelessly to have marketing seen as a success driver for organisations of all shapes and sizes. MA members are facing complexity and pace in their operating environments and the MA partners with them throughout their marketing career to help them keep ahead. marketing.org.nz
About YouTube
Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company.