June 8, 2026
MAD STARS, now in its 19th edition as one of Asia’s leading international marketing and advertising festivals, has announced 42 Final Jurors to date from 28 locations for its 2026 awards. They are part of a global judging body comprising more than 350 industry professionals from 83 locations, spanning every major region worldwide.
A Restructured Framework for Evaluating Creative Work
For 2026, MAD STARS has reorganized its entry categories around two Groups that reflect how creative work is developed and assessed today. The SOLUTION Group covers campaigns that combine strategy and execution to address real business and communication challenges. The POSITIVE IMPACT Group recognizes creative work that generates meaningful change across society, with entries evaluated against values including sustainability, diversity, health, and public responsibility.
Within this framework, the 42 Final Jurors announced to date are organized into five specialized panels: Traditional, Experience, Entertainment, Strategy, and Digital. Each panel is aligned with a specific cluster of the 25 Stars.
The Final Jurors Announced to Date
The jurors represent leading agencies, brands, and creative organizations across Asia-Pacific, MENA, Europe, and the Americas. Together, they bring hands-on experience across the full range of disciplines covered in the awards, from craft-led traditional advertising and brand experience to data-driven strategy, digital innovation, and purpose-driven work. This breadth of expertise reflects the scope of MAD STARS 2026’s two-Group framework, ensuring that entries in both the SOLUTION Group and the POSITIVE IMPACT Group are evaluated by jurors with firsthand experience in the relevant field.
The final-stage judging process is led by five Executive Jury members, who bring senior-level expertise in brand leadership, technology-driven creativity, creative strategy, and marketing effectiveness.
How Judging Works
All entries first undergo online Preliminary Judging, with selected works advancing to the First Round of Final Judging, also conducted online. The Second and Last Rounds of Final Judging take place in person in Busan, where the Executive Jury and Final Jury determine winners through discussion and voting. Winners will be announced at the Awards Show on August 28.
The Grand Prix of the Year, the festival’s highest honor, is awarded to two entries: one selected from among the Grand Prix winners of the SOLUTION Group, and one from the POSITIVE IMPACT Group.
Final Deadline: June 15 — No Further Extension
MAD STARS 2026 is open for entries across 2 Groups, 25 Stars, and 442 Categories. With its Final Jury taking shape, MAD STARS invites creative teams worldwide to submit their work before the June 15 deadline at madstars.org.
MAD STARS 2026 will take place from August 26 to 28 at SIGNIEL BUSAN and across the Haeundae area in Busan, under the theme “AMPLIFY.”
