Big Apple Awards 2026 Aims for Start of a New Era
The PRSA New York chapter has opened its end-of-year industry survey as work accelerates on the 2026 Big Apple Awards, inviting communicators across agencies, brands, nonprofits, and academia to help shape new categories, program elements, and judging considerations for the year ahead.
The survey follows a standout 2025 gala that reaffirmed the Big Apple Awards as one of the profession’s most respected honors. Held Sept. 18 at Sony Hall and hosted by Brian Stelter of CNN and Jamie Stelter of Spectrum News NY1, the event brought together leaders from across the communications ecosystem for an evening that celebrated the strategic, creative, and social impact of the industry’s top campaigns and practitioners.
The 2025 Big Apple Award winners showcased where the profession is heading, with campaigns defined by measurable impact, inventive storytelling, and authentic engagement. Zeno Group earned top honors for its KIND Kids nostalgia campaign, while Carmichael Lynch Relate secured multiple wins for Treasure Cave’s influencer and reputation work. 360PR+ proved that lean budgets can still deliver cultural relevance with its Power of 9 tofu campaign, and purpose-driven initiatives from HUNTER and Padilla highlighted the growing demand for creative that drives real-world change. The night also underscored the leaders shaping the field’s future, with honors for Barby K. Siegel, Sam Jacobs, Jon Harris, Douglas Simon, Helio Fred Garcia, and trailblazer Sam Marchiano, reinforcing how individual excellence and bold campaign innovation are increasingly intertwined.
Ken Kerrigan, president of PRSA-NY, said this year’s momentum sets the stage for an even more ambitious 2026 program. “We’ve also started planning the 2026 Big Apple Awards, which will take place in September. By all accounts this year’s award show was a night to remember, and we’re focused on making it even better. So before we send the official save the date, we would love your input.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
PRSA-NY’s survey asks communicators to help shape the direction of the 2026 Big Apple Awards, inviting feedback on emerging categories tied to AI, CommsTech innovation, SEO and GEO strategy, data-driven work, and rising-leader recognition. The chapter is also seeking suggestions for hosts, judges, and themes, along with ideas to elevate the gala experience. Respondents can indicate whether they plan to volunteer or serve as judges, share how their organizations are approaching the broader 2026 awards season, and identify who oversees award submissions internally. The goal is to ensure the program reflects the industry’s evolving priorities and operational realities.
The chapter is also highlighting that Big Apple Awards entries remain eligible as long as part of the work was executed by New York City–based practitioners, even if the campaign itself was national or global.
Communicators said the 2026 planning window is an opportunity to sharpen criteria around AI-enabled work, clarify expectations for cross-channel measurement, and elevate recognition for in-house teams that are increasingly leading strategic transformation.
“We want the awards to reflect the real direction of our industry,” Kerrigan said. “That means celebrating creativity grounded in purpose, innovation backed by evidence, and work that elevates trust at a time when it is most needed.”
PRSA-NY will release the official save-the-date invitation for the 2026 Big Apple Awards once community feedback has been collected.
