What’s new in 2026

The Golden Drum Festival continues to evolve, celebrating creativity that embodies authenticity, relevance and innovation. In 2026, we are expanding the All Juries section with a UNFPA Inclusion Excellence group, which is introduced by the Festival in collaboration with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

Golden Drum continues its international partnership with thenetworkone to further support independent agencies that often face challenges in gaining global recognition. Through this collaboration, Grand Prix and Gold-winning works from independent agencies will once again automatically qualify for the Indie Awards, offering them an additional platform to showcase their creative excellence on the international stage.

Novelties presented by the festival:

I. COMPETITION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH UNFPA

As the Golden Drum Festival continues to evolve, we are proud to introduce the UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award in the All Juries section. Presented in collaboration with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, this new accolade aims to inspire and recognise creative work that actively contributes to gender equality and social inclusion.
     
UNFPA works globally to uphold the rights and choices of women and young people. By dismantling discrimination, challenging harmful norms, and removing systemic barriers, they help forge inclusive societies where everyone can reach their full potential. Their work ensures that individuals, especially women and young people, have access to the information and services they need for a healthy life, free from discrimination and violence. They help guarantee that everyone, throughout their life course, is empowered to make decisions about their bodies, health, and future. 

These goals cannot be achieved without addressing the "invisible" barriers—the deep-seated social norms and biases that marginalize women, girls, and those left furthest behind, including historically marginalized communities, older persons, and people with disabilities.

The purpose of this award is to incentivize the creative community to use its immense influence to reshape social norms. Advertising plays an important role in defining what is "normal" in our culture. By rewarding work that challenges stereotypes and promotes gender equality and inclusion, Golden Drum and UNFPA aim to foster an environment where an individual’s rights and choices are not limited by their gender, background or identity. When the media we consume reflects the true diversity and potential of all people, it creates the cultural space necessary for real-world equality to take root. When this happens, everyone benefits: individuals enjoy greater opportunities to realize their full potential, and societies become stronger and more resilient. 

The UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award honours creators whose work contributes to shaping a more just, inclusive and equitable future for all.
Entries in this group should demonstrate how creativity can actively question the “default” narratives of society and replace them with empowering alternatives. Eligible work may address, among others the redefinition of gender roles, the visibility and leadership of women in traditionally male-dominated industries, inclusive representation of older people, persons with disabilities, and historically marginalised communities, the dismantling of stereotypes related to gender, age, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation.

The UNFPA Inclusion Excellence group is open to entries from 42 countries eligible to compete at the Golden Drum Festival Competition. The winner of the UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award will receive points for Golden Drum rankings and will be included in WARC rankings and The Drum World Creative Rankings. 
 

II. EXTENDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THENETWORKONE & ADFORUM

STRENGTHENING THE INDIE COMMUNITY
Golden Drum is proud to continue its partnership with thenetworkone to further support independent agencies and showcase their creative excellence on the international stage. Through this collaboration, all independent agencies winning Gold or Grand Prix awards at the Golden Drum festival will receive a complimentary entry into the Indie Awards 2027, allowing them to submit one piece of work into a category of their choice. Eligible works must be aired, launched, or released to the public for the first time between 30 September 2025 and 31 October 2026 and must not have previously been entered into any past Indie Awards.

GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Golden Drum is also featured in the AdForum Business Creative Report, a unique ranking of the world’s most-awarded campaigns by industry sector. 
 

III. INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS

The festival’s competition is recognized and included on the WARC Creative Rankings and The Drum World Creative Rankings, further affirming its global impact and prestige.