PRSA-NY Celebrates the Best of New York PR at the 2026 Big Apple Awards
Marc Drechsler and Stephanie Jo Peksen, Co-Chairs, 2026 PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards; with Gio Benitez, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” Sunday and ABC News transportation correspondent; and Paul Cohen, President, PRSA-NY at the 2026 PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards. (Photo Credit: Emy Photographs)
The sold-out 39th Annual Big Apple Awards brought the communications community together at Sony Hall to celebrate great work, industry leaders and the next generation of PR talent.
It was a big night for New York PR.
The 39th Annual PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards filled Sony Hall on September 17, bringing together hundreds of communications professionals to celebrate the people and work making an impact across the industry.
Hosted by ABC News’ Gio Benitez, the sold-out evening recognized this year’s Big Apple Award winners, six individual honorees and the 2026 class of 15 Under 35.
The individual honorees represented an extraordinary range of careers across communications, business and journalism.
Ray Day, vice chair of Stagwell and executive chair of Allison Worldwide, received the PRSA-NY Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rana Foroohar, global business columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times, received the Daniel J. Edelman Award for Social Impact.
Judy Smith, founder and CEO of Smith & Company, received the Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award.
Jano Cabrera, Chief Communications Officer of General Mills, received the Harold Burson Award. Cabrera’s career has included senior roles at McDonald’s and Burson-Marsteller, as well as work in presidential politics and the White House.
Aaron Kwittken of FGS Global received the Mentoring Award, and Sharon Moshavi, president of the International Center for Journalists and co-CEO of the Plus alliance, received the PRSA-NY President’s Award.
The night also celebrated the work being done across the industry right now, with Big Apple Awards presented to agencies, companies and organizations for campaigns spanning media relations, social media, AI, financial communications, purpose, reputation and more.
And some of the biggest cheers of the evening were for the 2026 15 Under 35 class.
Fifteen young professionals were recognized as part of the program, which is now in its 11th year. Bringing them onto the same stage as some of the most accomplished leaders in the business was one of the highlights of the night.
There was plenty happening beyond the stage, too. The evening began with a cocktail reception sponsored by MikeWorldWide in celebration of the agency’s 40th anniversary, along with a photo booth sponsored by Coyne PR.
But perhaps the best part of the Big Apple Awards was simply seeing the PR community together.
For one night, agency leaders, corporate communicators, journalists, young professionals, mentors, colleagues and friends filled Sony Hall to recognize great work and celebrate each other.
After 39 years, the Big Apple Awards are still very much a New York PR tradition.
Next year, they turn 40.
