The 2026 Clio Awards named 20 Grand Clio winners on May 12, 2026, at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City, with entries from nine markets taking the top honors. Ogilvy Singapore's "Vaseline Verified" won three Grand Clios, and AXA's "THREE WORDS" won the Public Relations Grand Clio. Entries for the 2027 Clio Awards are open, with a first deadline of October 23, 2026.
Originally published January 2009. Updated October 10, 2026.
Who won the 2026 Clio Awards?
The 2026 Clio Awards presented 20 Grand Clios across three advertiser types, according to the Clio Awards press release. One Grand Clio went to a Business-to-Business entry, three went to Public Service entries and 16 went to Product/Service entries.
| Advertiser type | Medium | Campaign | Brand | Agency |
|---|
| Business-to-Business | Direct | Pub Succession | Heineken | LePub Milan |
| Public Service | Branded Entertainment & Content | The Final Exam | Change The Ref | BBDO Chicago |
| Public Service | Culture & Influence | The Final Exam | Change The Ref | BBDO Chicago |
| Public Service | Film Craft | Trails Will Blaze | BBC | NOMINT |
| Product/Service | Audio | The Unofficial Sound of F1 | Sting | Leo India |
| Product/Service | Branded Entertainment & Content | Gulf of Mexico (Bar) | Tecate | LePub Mexico City |
| Product/Service | Creative Business Transformation | THREE WORDS | AXA | Publicis Conseil |
| Product/Service | Creative Disruption | Gulf of Mexico (Bar) | Tecate | LePub Mexico City |
| Product/Service | Creative Strategy | Vaseline Verified | Vaseline | Ogilvy Singapore |
| Product/Service | Culture & Influence | I WOOL SURVIVE | Grindr | Serviceplan Germany |
| Product/Service | Design | Vi Guardian Beads | Vi (Vodafone Idea) | Ogilvy Mumbai |
| Product/Service | Digital/Mobile | Tracking Bad Bunny | Bad Bunny | DDB Latina Puerto Rico |
| Product/Service | Direct | Vaseline Verified | Vaseline | Ogilvy Singapore |
| Product/Service | Experience/Activation | Expedition Impossible | Columbia Sportswear | adam&eve\TBWA |
| Product/Service | Film | The Final Copy of Ilon Specht | L'Oréal Paris | McCann Paris |
| Product/Service | Film Craft | No Project without Drama | HORNBACH | HeimatTBWA\Germany |
| Product/Service | Out of Home | Gulf of Mexico (Bar) | Tecate | LePub Mexico City |
| Product/Service | Public Relations | THREE WORDS | AXA | Publicis Conseil |
| Product/Service | Social Media | Gulf of Mexico (Bar) | Tecate | LePub Mexico City |
| Product/Service | Use of Influencers | Vaseline Verified | Vaseline | Ogilvy Singapore |
The Clio Awards named Vaseline Advertiser of the Year, Ogilvy Singapore Agency of the Year, Rethink Canada Independent Agency of the Year, Ogilvy Network of the Year and Whitecoat Production Company of the Year. Ogilvy said the title was its fourth consecutive Network of the Year, after wins in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Keegan-Michael Key hosted the ceremony. Mark Ronson and Mickalene Thomas received Honorary Clio Awards, and Ogilvy Health won the Clio Awards & Google AI Specialty Award for its work with Eurofarma.
Which campaign won the 2026 Clio Public Relations Grand?
AXA won the 2026 Clio Public Relations Grand for "THREE WORDS," created by Publicis Conseil. The same campaign won the Creative Business Transformation Grand.
In April 2025, AXA added the words "and domestic violence" to the relocation clauses in its French home insurance policies, Contagious reported. The change was meant to help women facing domestic abuse relocate.
AXA also won four Grands for the campaign at the 2026 Clio Health Awards, Muse by Clios reported.
What is Vaseline Verified and why did it win?
Vaseline Verified is a campaign by Ogilvy Singapore for Unilever's Vaseline that tests viral skincare hacks and labels each one verified or unverified. It won Grand Clios in Creative Strategy, Direct and Use of Influencers, and Ogilvy reported 18 Clios for the campaign in total.
Unilever said its R&D scientists tested hundreds of viral tips. A hack that passed earned a "Vaseline Verified" seal, and a hack that failed was labeled "Unverified" and debunked, according to the Ads of the World case study.
The seal carried documented backing. Unilever said the team worked with its legal, regulatory, analytical and claims teams to ensure legitimacy.
The campaign had already won the Health & Wellness Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2025, Storyboard18 reported.
What did Tecate's Gulf of Mexico (Bar) win?
Tecate's "Gulf of Mexico (Bar)," created by LePub Mexico City, won four Grand Clios, in Branded Entertainment & Content, Creative Disruption, Out of Home and Social Media. Ads of the World lists 20 Clio statues for the campaign: four Grand, five Gold, four Silver and seven Bronze.
The Clio entry text says the campaign answered a proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" and Google Maps reflecting the change. Tecate said the change felt like a cultural erasure for millions of Mexicans.
The campaign also won a Gold Clio in Public Relations, in the Real-Time Response category, according to the Clio winners gallery. The Public Relations Grand went to AXA.
Who judged the 2026 Clio Public Relations category?
Josy Paul, Chairperson and Chief Creative Officer of BBDO India, chaired the 2026 Clio Public Relations jury. The Clio Awards said more than 100 creative leaders judged the work, with jury sessions at the JA Resort & Spa in Dubai.
On his appointment, Paul said public relations has become a force that shapes culture and behavior, and that he wanted to reward work that earns belief.
The other 2026 jury chairs included:
- Alexander Schill of Serviceplan Group, for Creative Commerce and Direct
- Debbi Vandeven of VML, for Digital/Mobile and Experience/Activation
- Ariana Stolarz of Accenture Song, for Creative Business Transformation, Effectiveness and Strategy
- Perry Fair of Mattel, for Brand
- Javier Campopiano of McCann World Group, for Branded Entertainment & Content
- Sally Anderson of MetaDesign China, for Design
- Nancy Crimi-Lamanna of FCB Canada, for Audio and Audio Craft
How did the Clio Public Relations category start?
The Clio Awards added a Strategic Communications/Public Relations category in 2009, for its 50th anniversary, with Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman, as executive jury chair, Adweek reported. Clio director Wayne Youkhana said the category was meant to recognize people who understand the power of public relations and communications.
The 2027 program lists the Public Relations medium with 16 categories, including Crisis Management, Public Affairs, Real-Time Response and Launch/Relaunch, according to the Clio Awards mediums page. The medium takes entries from Business-to-Business, Product/Service and Public Service advertisers and does not accept campaign entries.
How do Clio and Cannes Lions results compare?
The same campaigns can win at both festivals, but the winning mediums differ. AXA's "THREE WORDS" won a Gold in PR at Cannes Lions 2025, according to AXA, and the PR Grand at the 2026 Clios.
At Cannes Lions 2025, the campaign also won the Titanium Grand Prix and Grands Prix in Direct and Creative Business Transformation, according to AXA. In 2026 it won a Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix at Cannes Lions, Contagious reported.
Vaseline Verified shows the same pattern. It won the Health & Wellness Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2025 and three Grand Clios in 2026.
How do you enter the 2027 Clio Awards?
Entries for the 2027 Clio Awards opened on September 14, 2026, and close on February 19, 2027, according to the Clio Awards key dates page. Prices rise after each deadline, and all deadlines fall at 11:59 pm EST.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|
| Call for entries opens | September 14, 2026 |
| First deadline | October 23, 2026 |
| Second deadline | December 11, 2026 |
| Third deadline | January 15, 2027 |
| Final deadline | February 19, 2027 |
| Shortlist announced | April 15, 2027 |
| Bronze, Silver and Gold announced | April 19, 2027 |
| Ceremony and Grand Clios | May 2027, New York City |
The Public Relations medium costs $525 at the first deadline, $625 at the second, $750 at the third and $800 at the final deadline, according to the Clio Awards mediums page. The Creative Disruption medium also includes a Public Relations category, priced at $1,025 for the first deadline.
Check the eligibility period and media requirements in the entry kit before you build a case, because the Clio Awards set entry rules for each cycle.
What should PR teams take from the 2026 results?
The 2026 results point to four moves for PR teams planning 2027 entries.
- Enter one idea in more than one medium. "Gulf of Mexico (Bar)" won Grands in four mediums and a Gold in PR, and "Vaseline Verified" won Grands in three mediums.
- Lead with a change that can be checked. AXA's entry rests on a contract change anyone can read, and Vaseline's seal rests on lab tests.
- Time news-driven work for the Real-Time Response category. Tecate's PR Gold came in that category, and the campaign answered a news event.
- Budget for the first deadline. The PR medium costs $525 on October 23, 2026 and $800 on the final day.
Submit your strongest measurable campaign in the PR medium by October 23, 2026 to pay the lowest fee. Brands choosing an agency for an entry can compare firms in the PR agency profiles directory.
Clio Awards FAQ
What are the Clio Awards?
The Clio Awards honor advertising and creative communications. The program was founded in 1959, according to clios.com, and the 67th edition took place on May 12, 2026, at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City.
How many Grand Clios were awarded in 2026?
The Clio Awards presented 20 Grand Clios in 2026. The Grand Clio ranks above the Gold, Silver and Bronze Clio statues.
Who won the 2026 Clio Awards Public Relations Grand?
AXA won the Public Relations Grand Clio for "THREE WORDS," created by Publicis Conseil.
Who chaired the 2026 Clio Public Relations jury?
Josy Paul, Chairperson and Chief Creative Officer of BBDO India, chaired the Public Relations jury.
Who won Agency of the Year at the 2026 Clio Awards?
Ogilvy Singapore won Agency of the Year. Ogilvy won Network of the Year, Vaseline won Advertiser of the Year and Rethink Canada won Independent Agency of the Year.
Who hosted the 2026 Clio Awards?
Keegan-Michael Key hosted the 2026 Clio Awards ceremony in New York City.
When was the Clio Public Relations category created?
The Clio Awards added the Strategic Communications/Public Relations category in 2009, with Richard Edelman as executive jury chair.
When is the first deadline for the 2027 Clio Awards?
The first deadline is October 23, 2026, and the final deadline is February 19, 2027. The 2027 ceremony takes place in New York City in May 2027.
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