Submission period for Adwards 2026 extended to April 15

The submission period for the advertising, design, and other creative industries competition Adwards 2026 is rapidly approaching its close. The Latvian Art Directors' Club (LADC) invites creative professionals and teams from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia not to miss the opportunity and to submit their work by April 15 to the most significant creative excellence festival in the Baltics. This year, marking its 20th anniversary, Adwards is expanding its scale and will bring together the entire region on a unified platform in Riga on May 14–15.

Entries can be submitted across advertising, design, digital, public relations, and other categories. Submissions will close on April 15, and all information about categories and requirements is available on the festival’s website: www.adwards.eu.

Winners of the Adwards competition will receive special awards created by one of Latvia’s most internationally recognized designers, Germans Ermičs. “It is important for me to create works rooted here – in Latvia and the Baltics – because this environment shapes our identity and way of thinking. Being part of Adwards means taking part in a conversation about how ideas stand out and become noticeable. This award is a way to highlight works that are clear, precise, and distinctive,” emphasizes Germans Ermičs.

This year’s festival theme “Bursting Bubbles” highlights the need to step beyond the familiar – both in thinking and collaboration. It is an opportunity to test ideas in a broader context and allow them to compete with the strongest work in the Baltics. That is why this is a decisive moment – to submit entries and become part of this creative dialogue.

“Adwards has always been a mirror of the industry’s quality, but this year it becomes a platform where the creative potential of the entire Baltic region can meet and look in the same direction. We want creative professionals not only to showcase their best work but also to challenge themselves – to think more boldly, collaborate more broadly, and seek ideas beyond conventional frameworks. The festival will feature a full two-day program in which leading international industry figures will share their experience and insights on trends, as well as inspire new ideas,” says festival director Ināra Šumeiko.

This year also places special emphasis on the younger generation. As part of the student program, participants will have access to three real company briefs, for which they can develop creative solutions and present them during the festival. The best work will be awarded valuable prizes while also providing practical experience working with real client assignments.

In addition, young professionals will have the opportunity to prepare their portfolios and present them at the festival, meeting potential employers and receiving feedback from internationally recognized industry experts. It is a rare opportunity to both showcase oneself and gain direct feedback from industry leaders in one place.