Agencies, advertisers, media companies and creatives now have until 8 September 2026 to submit their best work, published, aired, or publicly released for the first time between 23 August 2025 and 26 August 2026, to the Golden Drum Competition. 

Entries compete across six sections: One-Channel Drum, Omni-Channel Drum, Craft Drum, Creative Media Excellence Drum, Creative Business Excellence Drum and a special All Juries Section. The Game Changer group remains the only competition group open to entries worldwide. 

New this year is the UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award, presented by Golden Drum in partnership with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. Part of the All Juries Section, the award celebrates creative work that challenges stereotypes and advances gender equality and social inclusion.

This year’s programme will explore some of the biggest questions shaping creativity today – from AI, technology and the future of media to craft, creative effectiveness and the power of ideas born in smaller markets.

Xavier Blais, Partner and Executive Creative Director at Rethink, will remind the industry of something increasingly important in the age of AI: the power of actually making things. One of the youngest partners in Rethink’s history, Blais has created internationally recognised work for brands including IKEA, Heinz and Molson Coors.

Islam ElDessouky, Global Creative Excellence Lead at The Coca-Cola Company, will bring insights from one of the world’s most iconic brands, drawing on his experience across global platforms and collaborations including Coca-Cola × FIFA 2026. 

Emma Follett, Co-Chief Creative Officer at Design Bridge and Partners, will explore the relationship between Head, Heart and Hands, demonstrating why exceptional craft remains essential to creating brands with lasting cultural impact.

Mihnea Gheorghiu, Global Chief Creative Officer of LePub Network and the newest member of the Golden Drum Hall of Fame, will also take the Golden Drum stage as part of this year’s programme. Drawing on his extensive international career and award-winning creative work, he will bring his perspective on creativity and the industry to Portorož.

Fitz Maro, Head of the Americas, Design Technology at Brand Innovation Lab, Amazon Ads, will put technology in the spotlight and explore how creatives can build their own AI-powered “second brain”, allowing technology to handle repetitive work while leaving more room for creative thinking.

Marko Jovanović, Creative Director at Havas Adriatic, will look towards The Future of Media Creativity, exploring how people, platforms and technologies are reshaping media and opening new possibilities for creative ideas.

And sometimes, the best technology is still a pencil. Dirk Schuster and Benjamin Simon, Co-Founders and Creative Directors of FOREAL, will reveal how a pen, a piece of paper and even a seemingly stupid idea can lead to unexpected creative breakthroughs.

David Guerrero, Creative Chair of BBDO Guerrero and member of the BBDO Worldwide Creative Council, will show how ideas rooted in local culture can travel far beyond their borders. Drawing on decades of internationally awarded work, he will explore how creativity from smaller markets can make an impact on the global stage.

Carl Ewald Jannerfeldt, Creative Director of Rocket—Science, will turn attention to one of advertising’s most powerful, and often overlooked, creative opportunities: the product itself. Drawing on experience from agencies including BBDO New York, Wieden+Kennedy and R/GA, he will challenge creatives to push their ideas beyond communication and into the products people actually use.

Katrina Stirton Dodd, Trends Editor at Contagious, will bring a sharp eye to the cultural, technological and marketing shifts shaping the industry. Spending her days identifying what is changing and what actually matters, she will help audiences navigate emerging trends and what they mean for brands and creativity.

Golden Drum in collaboration with regional Associations offers a 20% discount on delegate fee for their members. See here the list of Associations the festival is partnering with.

All delegates can now secure their passes to the upcoming edition of the Golden Drum Festival, an inspiring event that will once again bring together creative minds, showcase thought-provoking talks, offer valuable networking opportunities, and celebrate creativity in all its forms.

See the full price list here.