The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) today announced the official call for entries for the 2026 OBIE Awards, the most prestigious creative honor in out-of-home advertising. This year’s ceremony will take place on October 15, 2026, at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, bringing the industry’s top brands, agencies, media owners, and creative leaders together in the global capital of advertising and culture.
For 84 years, the OBIE Awards have celebrated the boldest ideas in out of home — work that transforms streets into galleries, skylines into storytelling canvases, and public space into shared experiences.
The 2026 OBIE Awards introduce a thoughtful evolution in categories and judging criteria, placing creative ideas at the center. The changes reflect how the industry is evolving and how the most powerful OOH ideas today transcend format to create cultural impact.
“The OBIEs celebrate the ideas that make out of home such a powerful creative medium,” said Anna Bager, President and CEO of OAAA. “OOH is the last mass medium and one of the most creatively inspiring. When an idea works here, it works everywhere. We’re thrilled to host the OBIE Awards in New York City and bring together the full advertising ecosystem in the city where culture, creativity, and commerce intersect.”
Last year’s top honor went to The Coca-Cola Company for a campaign that demonstrated the enduring power of iconic creative amplified through the scale of out of home. It was a reminder that in a fragmented media world, the most unforgettable ideas still belong in the real world.
The 2026 OBIE Awards will spotlight creative excellence across brand storytelling, experiential activations, craft, public service, innovation, and breakthrough ideas that redefine what OOH can be. As brands seek work that earns attention rather than interrupts it, OOH continues to deliver ideas that are visible, shareable, and culturally resonant.
Submissions are now open to agencies, brands, media owners, production partners, and creative innovators whose work ran during the eligibility period. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of leading creatives, marketers, and industry leaders.
