PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards 2026 Invite NYC’s Best Work to Enter Now

Something is happening across the New York communications community right now. You can feel it in agency offices, inside corporate teams, and in the late-night Slack threads where case studies are getting one last look. The PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards are in full swing, and the momentum is real.

Entries are coming in fast. Teams are revisiting their strongest campaigns. And there’s a shared recognition that this is the moment to step forward and put meaningful work on the record.

This year’s theme, Where Stories Move Hearts, Minds and Markets, isn’t just a line. It reflects how the role of communications has evolved. The work being submitted isn’t just creative. It’s accountable. It drives outcomes. It shapes how organizations show up in the world.

And that’s what’s making this year’s program especially compelling. The range is wide. Agencies, in-house teams, nonprofits, and media organizations are all stepping in. Campaigns qualify if any part of the work was driven by New York metro-based practitioners, whether the impact was local or global. It’s a reminder that New York continues to sit at the center of some of the most influential storytelling anywhere.

There’s also a practical reason to act now. The extended early bird window offers a 15 percent savings through May 8 with code BAAEXTEND26. In awards terms, that’s the window where smart teams move quickly, lock in their entries, and then get back to the work ahead.

Beyond submissions, the activity is just as strong behind the scenes. Judges are being recruited. New voices are being brought into the process. The 15 Under 35 program is ramping up. There’s a sense that this is not just an awards program, but a reflection of where the profession is heading.

That momentum is made possible in part by the organizations that continue to invest in the community. This year’s program is supported by industry leaders including Edelman, Hunter, Burson, 360PR+, Truescope, Davis + Gilbert LLP, D S Simon Media, Anchin, The Museum of Public Relations, and Notified, with event production led by CommPRO. Their support reflects a shared commitment to elevating the work, recognizing talent, and strengthening the future of the profession.

And then there’s the night that brings it all together. The 2026 gala at Sony Hall on September 17 will celebrate the campaigns, the teams, and the ideas that defined the year. It’s where the industry shows up not just to compete, but to recognize what great work actually looks like right now.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to enter, this is it. If your team delivered something that moved people, influenced decisions, or drove measurable results, it belongs in the conversation.

The buzz is building. The bar is rising. And New York’s best work deserves to be part of it.