Effie South Africa Opens Entries for 2026 Awards

Effie South Africa Opens Entries for 2026 Awards. Effie South Africa has officially announced the call for entries for the 2026 Effie Awards South Africa, inviting agency and client partner teams to submit campaigns that have delivered measurable results in the market. The Effie Awards are internationally recognised as a benchmark for marketing effectiveness, rewarding work that demonstrates how insight, strategy, execution and evidence combine to drive real business outcomes.

According to Effie South Africa, the awards focus on effectiveness rather than creativity alone. Campaigns are assessed on their ability to solve business challenges, influence behaviour and produce outcomes that can be clearly demonstrated through data and results.

Commenting on the announcement, ACA executive director for Effie South Africa Gillian Rightford said the Effies set the standard for what works in marketing. She noted that an Effie entry goes beyond telling a creative story and requires a disciplined case that proves impact and effectiveness.

Campaigns are eligible for entry if they ran in South Africa between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026. For the Sustained Success category, entries must relate to campaigns that flighted between 1 February 2023 and 31 January 2026.

Effie South Africa has also released key dates for agencies and client teams planning to enter. An online How to Write a Winning Effie Entry workshop will take place on Thursday, 5 March 2026. The Early Bird entry period runs from 1 April to 30 April 2026, followed by the On-Time entry window from 1 May to 14 May 2026. The Last Minute entry period closes on 29 May 2026, with the online entry portal shutting strictly at midnight on that date.

To support high-quality submissions, Effie South Africa will host the online workshop to guide entrants through the requirements of a strong Effie case. Registration is required to attend.

Entrants are encouraged to consult the 2026 Awards Entry Information page on the Effie South Africa website for details on categories, eligibility and submission guidelines.

Effie recognition extends beyond the local awards programme. Finalists and winners earn points on the global Effie Index, highlighting the performance of South African agencies and brands internationally. Gold winners also progress to the Global Best of the Best, where local campaigns are benchmarked against leading work from around the world. The awards continue to position effectiveness as the ultimate measure of marketing success across industries in Africa.