The 17th ICMA Content Marketing Award 2026 is now accepting international entries from creative professionals, agencies, companies and organisations working across corporate media, editorial design and visual communication.
Organised by the International Editorial Design & Research Forum, the ICMA recognises outstanding work in content marketing across print, digital, motion, multimedia and campaign-based formats. The competition places particular emphasis on design and production quality, originality, innovation and effective communication.
Eligible projects must have been created between January 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026. Entries may be submitted from any country.
Competition Categories
The content marketing section covers a broad range of corporate and editorial communication formats, including:
- Customer magazines for B2B and B2C audiences
- Employee newspapers and magazines
- Annual reports
- Image and corporate brochures
- Catalogues and magalogues
- Corporate books
- Websites and digital magazines
- Cross-media projects
- Multimedia storytelling
- Gamification projects
- Corporate podcasts
- Corporate films and videos
- Animated films
- Event media
- Employer-branding and communication campaigns
The competition also includes dedicated categories for projects demonstrating measurable impact, corporate sustainability communication and practical applications of artificial intelligence.
Entrants who register a project in one of the main categories may submit up to four components from the same publication in eligible subcategories without paying an additional fee. These subcategories include typography and layout, photography, visualisation, illustration, infographics, cover design, visual storytelling and print finishing.
Submission Requirements
Most entries will be evaluated digitally during a two-day jury session.
Print projects should generally be submitted as PDF files, preferably presented as double-page spreads. Online and multimedia projects should include screenshots, a project description and a working link where appropriate.
Printed copies are normally required only for entries submitted in the corporate books category. Each submission must also include the official participation form and be uploaded through the ICMA Upload Centre.
Entry Fee
The participation fee for a content marketing publication is €270 per project and main category.
For B2B customer media, B2C customer media and employee media, the fee includes two different editions of the publication. A newly launched publication may be represented by a single edition.
Late entries submitted between October 16 and November 6, 2026 are subject to a 20% surcharge.
Awards
The ICMA presents the following distinctions:
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
- Award of Excellence
Every award-winning project receives a personalised PDF certificate at no additional charge. The certificate features the winning work and identifies the client, agency or designer.
Winners may also order individually produced Plexiglas trophies or certificates printed on aluminium for an additional fee.
Important Dates
Regular submission deadline: October 15, 2026
Late-entry period: October 16–November 6, 2026
Final late-entry deadline: November 6, 2026, at midnight
Eligible production period: January 1, 2025–October 31, 2026
Results notification: By December 15, 2026
The organisers state that winners may publish their results from December 15 onwards, while the winning projects and certificates are scheduled to be published on the ICMA website by January 31.
Eligibility
The competition is open internationally to individuals, designers, agencies, companies, institutions and other organisations submitting eligible print or digital content marketing work created during the specified competition period.
Participants unsure about the most appropriate category may contact the organisers before submitting their project.
Official website: ICMA Content Marketing Award
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