The Advertising Club honoured the best in media strategy, innovation and effectiveness at the EMVIES Awards 2026 in Mumbai. Hindustan Unilever emerged as Best Media Client, Mindshare took Best Media Agency, and WPP Media won Best Media Agency Network, while Wavemaker India and Colgate secured the coveted Grand EMVIE.
India’s media and advertising industry gathered in Mumbai on Friday, 23 October, to celebrate excellence in media planning, strategy and innovation at the EMVIES Awards 2026, where leading brands and agencies were recognised for delivering impactful and effective campaigns.
Organised by The Advertising Club, the awards ceremony was held at the Jio World Convention Centre and brought together professionals from the media, marketing, advertising and research sectors. Supported by Tata Communications and UltraTech Cement Limited, the event once again reinforced the EMVIES’ standing as one of the industry’s most prestigious honours.
Widely regarded as the Oscars of the media world, the EMVIE Awards recognise outstanding achievements in media strategy, planning, research, innovation and execution. This year’s edition showcased the depth of talent and creativity across the industry, with a total of 223 trophies awarded, including one Grand EMVIE, 57 Gold, 74 Silver and 91 Bronze honours.
Among the evening’s biggest winners, Hindustan Unilever Limited was named Best Media Client of the Year, recognising the company’s continued commitment to media excellence and effectiveness. Mindshare secured the title of Best Media Agency of the Year, while WPP Media was honoured as Best Media Agency Network of the Year, highlighting its strong performance across multiple categories.
The coveted Grand EMVIE was awarded to Wavemaker India and Colgate (Palmolive) Pvt. Ltd. for the “Colgate Oral Health Movement” campaign in the Best Digital Strategy category. The recognition underscores the growing importance of digital-led initiatives in driving meaningful engagement and business outcomes for brands.
The industry’s next generation of talent was also celebrated through the Young EMVIE of the Year award, which was jointly awarded to Zenith’s Chitwan Sharma and EssenceMediacom’s Aditi Salian. Their achievement reflected the increasing influence of young professionals in shaping innovative media solutions and strategic thinking.
Speaking on the occasion, Dheeraj Sinha, President of The Advertising Club, highlighted the significance of the awards in recognising transformative work within the media landscape.
“The EMVIES have consistently recognised the ideas, thinking and innovation that push the boundaries of media. As the industry continues to evolve, these awards remain an important platform to celebrate the people and work shaping its future. The winners this year reflect the ambition, strategic rigour and creativity of our industry, setting new benchmarks for what media can achieve,” he said.
Punitha Arumugam, Chairperson of the EMVIES Committee, said the awards reflected the strength of India’s media ecosystem and its ability to combine insight-driven strategy with innovation and execution.
“The work recognised this year demonstrates the industry’s ability to combine strong insights with innovation and effectiveness to deliver meaningful outcomes for brands. It is encouraging to see the power of strategy, data, tech and execution continue to evolve, with professionals pushing themselves to think beyond the conventional,” she said.
As media consumption patterns continue to transform and technology reshapes audience engagement, the EMVIES 2026 winners exemplify how strategic thinking, data-driven insights and creative execution are setting new standards for excellence across India’s advertising and media industry.
Discover more from Creative Brands Mag
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a comment