American Advertising Awards

American Advertising Awards

About the Awards

The American Advertising Awards, is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries nationwide. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising, and it all begins with your local club competition, hosted by AAF Midlands!

The American Advertising Awards Gala is a fun night that our Midlands community looks forward to every February! The 2025 American Advertising Awards are open to entries. Please read below for details.

What are the American Advertising Awards?​

The National American Advertising Awards program is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative creative competition, recognizing creative excellence in the art of advertising. Sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, the American Advertising Awards competition represents the broadest creative spirit of advertising by recognizing all forms of advertising; in all varieties of media; created by all sizes and types of entrants; and from all over the country.​

How Are Winners Chosen?

With the American Advertising Awards, it is the size of the idea that matters most, not the size of the organization that created the work, nor the size of the budget behind it. This distinction elevates the American Advertising Award over virtually every other advertising competition. Advertising agencies, design studios, in-house teams and freelancers have all had the prestigious honor of accepting an Addy Award. Students can enter and win an ADDY as well! Creative work done for class or other AAF sponsored competition is eligible.

How Do I Enter?

Entries must be submitted online using our American Advertising Awards portal. Deadline for entries is January 17, 2025. All entries will be handled virtually. No physical submissions are required.

Professional award competition, submit here.

Student award competition, submit here.

What are the Categories?

National is vigilant in keeping the American Advertising Awards categories relevant. All work is entered into seven categories that reflect the way today’s entrants develop their work and offer myriad ways to enter. Download the Rules & Categories for full details.

Frequently Asked Questions

The American Advertising Awards are a three tiered award competition consisting of a local competition, district competition, and a national competition. Any entry that won a Gold ADDY in our local show will be forwarded automatically to the district competition. You don’t need to do a thing! 

Entries that won a Silver ADDY will not be forwarded automatically, however you have the option to forward your entry to the district level for a fee. 

If you have any questions about your specific entry or this process, please contact Emma Gerraughty, Board Judging Chair, at emmag0619@gmail.com.

A form will be provided to order duplicate awards for clients or other members of your team after the competition.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Emma Gerraughty, Board Judging Chair, at emmag0619@gmail.com.