OOH Advertising Awards 2026 open for entries

The 20th edition of the OOH Advertising Awards (OAA) is now open for entries, marking a milestone year for one of the industry’s most respected platforms recognising creativity, innovation and impact in OOH. OAA 2026 will be held on the evening of July 25, 2026, alongside the OOH Advertising Convention (OAC), scheduled for July 24–25 at Grand Hyatt Goa. 

As the OOH landscape continues to evolve, this edition of the awards reflects a broader shift in how the medium is being defined, moving beyond visibility to measurable impact, innovation and real-world effectiveness. 

As per the OAA practice, judging will be done in two rounds – online and on-ground. The judging process is backed by a robust back-end system with EY as the tabulation partner.  OAA entries will be evaluated by an esteemed jury panel comprising senior brand marketing and creative professionals.   

While entries remain central to the announcement, OAA 2026 introduces a series of updates across categories and evaluation criteria. The awards this year aim to better align with the expanding scope of OOH and DOOH, recognising work that not only captures attention but also drives business outcomes. 

Among the key changes, the former ‘Brand Category’ has been renamed ‘Brand Campaigns’, with the addition of a new ‘Brand Launch’ sub-category and revised evaluation weightage. ‘Media Plan of the Year’ now includes a regional sub-category, reflecting the increasing importance of localised strategies. 

Innovation has been given greater prominence, with ‘Innovation of the Year’ now established as a standalone category. It includes sub-categories such as copy-led, art-led, tech-led and format innovation, highlighting the growing diversity of creative approaches within the medium.  

Experiential OOH has also been restructured, with activation and experiential initiatives now consolidated under ‘Best Experiential OOH’, further divided into categories such as on-ground activations, cultural campaigns, event-based executions and in-store or mall activations. 

Additional updates include the introduction of a transit-focused sub-category within International OOH, and the renaming of ‘Best Media Format Innovation’ to ‘Best OOH Media Asset Innovation’, along with a new sub-category for digital signage networks.  

Alongside category changes, judging parameters have been refined to better reflect current marketing metrics, placing stronger emphasis on effectiveness and measurable outcomes. 

With entries now open and the awards set against the backdrop of OAC 2026, the upcoming edition is expected to bring together a wide spectrum of work across formats, technologies and markets, continuing to position OAA as a key benchmark for excellence in the OOH industry. 

For more details on OAA 2026, look up: https://www.oacasia.org/oaa/category