The Pan-African Creative Excellence Awards
Celebrating Africa's Creative Excellence
The PAAN Awards honor the boldest agencies, visionary brands, and exceptional freelancers shaping a borderless creative Africa.
Award Categories
11 categories across agencies & freelancers
In Collaboration With
Partnering with industry leaders to drive innovation and excellence
20+ Categories. One Continental Stage.
From Agency of the Year to Best Use of AI, these awards celebrate the people, brands, and ideas driving Africa's creative future.
Agency of the Year
Sustainability & Purpose
Cross-Border Collaboration
Creative Campaign
Agency CEO
Best Use Of AI
Celebrating Africa's Independent Agencies, Creativity & Innovation
The Pan-African Agency Network (PAAN) proudly invites entries for the PAAN Awards 2026 — the premier platform celebrating the creativity, innovation, and impact of Africa's independent agencies.
This is your chance to showcase your agency's best work, gain continental recognition, and position your brand as a leader shaping Africa's creative economy.
Why Enter?
Credibility & Recognition
Stand out as a top-performing agency on a continental stage.
Client Attraction
Strengthen your pitch power with award-winning credentials.
Talent Magnet
Attract top creative talent eager to join award-winning teams.
Visibility
Get featured across PAAN's platforms, media partners, and industry events.
Networking
Gain access to brand leaders, decision-makers, and fellow innovators.
Prestige
Winners receive the official PAAN Award badge — a seal of excellence for all communications.
Who Can Enter?
Award Categories
The PAAN Awards recognize excellence across five major clusters:
Campaign Excellence Awards
PR, Communication, OOH, Social Media, Content, Influencer, CSR/Impact, Integrated, B2B, and Experiential campaigns.
Agency Excellence Awards
Digital, Creative, Design & Branding, Media Buying, Production, Specialist, Rising, Regional, and Independent agencies.
Innovation & Technology Awards
Tech Innovation, Creative Use of Data, and E-Commerce Marketing.
Sector Excellence Awards
Public Sector and Financial Services campaigns.
Special Honors
Agency Leader of the Year and the Grand Prix: Agency of the Year.
PAAN Agency Awards 2026
PR Campaign of the Year
Outstanding public relations campaigns that shaped public perception and delivered measurable impact.
Communication Campaign of the Year
Exceptional communication strategies that effectively reached and engaged target audiences.
Digital Agency of the Year
Leading digital agencies that excel in online strategy, execution, and innovation.
Creative Agency of the Year
Creative agencies that consistently deliver outstanding creative solutions and campaigns.
Tech Innovation in Marketing Award
Groundbreaking use of technology to create innovative marketing solutions and experiences.
Agency Leader of the Year
Visionary leaders who have driven exceptional growth, innovation, and industry impact.
Fair. Transparent. Prestigious.
Entries will be scored on creativity, impact, collaboration, and authenticity by an independent jury of African industry leaders.
Judging Criteria
Our independent panel evaluates entries across four key dimensions:
Creativity
Original thinking, craft, and storytelling excellence.
Impact
Measurable results and cultural relevance.
Authenticity
African context, voice, and integrity.
Collaboration
Cross-discipline and cross-border teamwork.
Your Work. Africa's Spotlight.
Join Africa's most prestigious creative awards and showcase your talent to a continental audience.
Why Participate?
- Gain continental recognition and credibility
- Strengthen your brand and professional reputation
- Connect with top agencies, clients & collaborators
- Inspire and be part of Africa's creative future
Key Dates 2025/2026
Mark your calendar for the PAAN Summit & Creative Excellence Awards 2026.
| Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 October 2025 | Entries Open | Submit your entries starting March 10. Showcase your agency, brand, or freelance work to a continental jury. |
| 15 November 2025 | Early Bird Deadline | Take advantage of reduced entry fees and priority review for submissions received by this date. |
| 30 November 2025 | Final Entry Deadline | All award entries must be submitted by midnight EAT. Late submissions will not be accepted. |
| 15 January 2026 | Finalists Announced | The shortlisted entries will be revealed across all categories. Finalists will be notified directly. |
| 22 April 2026 | Awards Ceremony | Join us at the PAAN Summit in Nairobi for the prestigious awards ceremony celebrating Africa's creative excellence. |
Are You Africa's Next Creative Leader?
Join the most prestigious celebration of creativity in Africa. Showcase your impact, inspire the industry, and own the stage at the PAAN Summit Awards.
Collaborate
Innovate
Dominate
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