The LIT Advertising Awards honors creative excellence across the global digital media, design and advertising industries, celebrating the rebels, the rule-breakers, and the visionary campaigns that stop people in their tracks. From jaw-dropping ads to dazzling digital campaigns, social media stardom, and everything in between, the LIT Awards gives you a front-row seat to the most inspiring work out there. It’s the ultimate showcase for ads that spark conversations, inspire change, and make audiences go, "Wow!"
We’re calling all creative pros, ad enthusiasts, PR and marketing mavens, and industry trailblazers to join the LIT Awards! Whether you are part of a powerhouse agency, rocking it as an in-house genius, or blazing your own path as a freelancer, this is your moment to shine. The LIT Advertising Awards is about bringing together the best creative professionals to showcase exceptional campaigns, innovative concepts, and make waves on a global stage.
So, bring your A-game, submit your best work, and join a network that’s shaking up the world of advertising – because here, creativity rules, and every idea has the chance to shine bright!
Celebrate Your Creative Pulse!
The LIT Advertising Awards is your gateway to a universe of ideas that empowers you to think big, think bold, and think beyond boundaries. From digital marvels like engaging websites to strategic campaigns that inspire action and designs that redefine the art of advertising, LIT recognizes the masterminds behind the magic that make ideas pop in this ever-evolving industry.
Get ready to put your creative pulse on display, because this is where advertising legends are born.
Digital
Video
Website
Integrated Marketing
Strategic Campaigns
Branded Content
Marketing & Promotional
Strategic Program
Advertising & Design
Advertising
Corporate Identity
Publication
UI/UX
Special Submissions
Pro Bono
Outstanding Agency Awards
Entry
Entry
Entry
Entry
The 2026 LITO statuette takes on a new form, a confident stance, coat subtly lifted as if in motion, and an umbrella held deliberately upright. Its shape is designed to be instantly recognizable, like a strong visual hook in a campaign: simple at first glance, memorable in silhouette.
The umbrella isn't ornamental. It extends the figureʼs line of sight upward, giving it height, presence and that split-second impact the same way great advertising knows when and where to appear.
The smooth, uninterrupted body form mirrors the flow of a well-built idea, just clean execution. It carries the same energy as a good campaign — clear, intentional and confident.
View LITO StatuetteAt the LIT Advertising Awards, your work is in the hands of the industry’s most accomplished professionals and creative powerhouses, who live and breathe creativity.
The Grand Jury Panel is a dynamic collective of visionary leaders, game-changers, and trendsetters, ready to be wowed by your brilliance. Find out if you have what it takes to impress some of the brightest minds in the field!
United States
Kushal Birari
Creative, Mother New York
Kushal Birari is a creative at Mother, one of the world’s most respected, independent creative companies. Having worked in five prominent cities across three continents, he has made a significant impact through his art direction and design. He has left an indelible mark on numerous international brands, including OREO, MINI Cooper, Make in India, FIFA, Bosch, Instagram, and more. His recent noteworthy contribution to the OREO Pride campaign has garnered widespread attention, resonating with diverse communities globally and earning recognition through various national and international accolades. Birari excels in creative direction, advertising, ideas development, art direction, and creative strategy, showcasing a comprehensive skill set in the realm of visual communication and strategic brand development. His proficiency in his role is evident through the impactful influence he has wielded on major international brands, demonstrating a keen understanding of art direction and design and His ability to resonate with diverse audiences.
United States
Shikhar Mangla
Product Design Lead, Sling TV
Shikhar Mangla is a Lead Product Designer at Sling TV with over 11 years of experience designing and delivering high-quality consumer digital products, bringing a strong focus on user-centered design, innovation, and product excellence. His work centers on streaming and large-screen TV experiences, where clarity, navigation, accessibility, and interaction quality play a direct role in user satisfaction and engagement. He has led cross-functional initiatives across product design, design systems, prototyping, and usability testing, balancing strong visual craft with practical constraints and measurable outcomes. Passionate about solving problems through digital products, he brings a keen interest in designing interfaces for next-generation devices such as smartphones and wearables, guided by the belief that great products are shaped by the seamless integration of design, experience, and technology. He reviews design work with a fair, criteria-driven approach, considering concept, execution, usability, and real-world impact, and is particularly drawn to work that simplifies complexity, improves discoverability, and delivers cohesive cross-platform experiences.
United States
Michael J. Russo
Chief Creative Officer, brandRUSSO
Michael Russo is the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of brandRUSSO, a strategic branding agency established in 2001. As a global award-winning art director, copywriter, and designer, Michael brings more than 20 years of creative experience working with an international roster of clients across a wide variety of industries and markets.
As Chief Creative Officer, Michael works closely with clients and internal teams to bring brand voices to life through both messaging and design. His specialty lies in translating strategy into creative that creates emotional connections and real differentiation, ensuring brands are not just seen, but believed.
In addition to his work with clients, Michael has served as a judge for both national and international marketing, advertising, and branding competitions, evaluating brand strategy, creative execution, and effectiveness across multiple industries. He is the creative force behind brandRUSSO’s Razor Branding™ process, a published author, and co-host of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, where he challenges conventional thinking around branding and what it actually takes to build brands that change the conversation.
If you’d like to play a role in judging at the awards or be considered for future inclusions in the LIT Advertising Awards, submit a nomination, and an award representative will reach out to you soon.
Get ready to explore and discover the stories behind those who have transformed creative sparks while rewriting the rules of success. They are proof that big dreams and fearless ideas lead to extraordinary outcomes, and that your moment could be next!
“ Winning in the award is an incredible honor for me and Schrifteria Foundry. For me personally, it’s a proud moment to see SFT Schrifted Serif recognized on such a prestigious platform. ”
~ Yulia Gonina, Founder of Schrifteria Foundry
“ This award is especially meaningful as it supports our Barnett team’s mission to “elevate the goodness” in the world, and further celebrates the incredibly inspiring and life-changing work of our client, Eliminate Poverty Now. ”
~ Debbie Barnett, Founder & Creative Director at Barnett Design, Inc
“ It was an honor for a company so young to have such an important global projection, reinforcing the already spread out concept that Portuguese tech talent is among the best in the world. For us, it serves as proof that all the hard effort we put into the smallest details adds up to a result that we can be proud of. ”
~ Marco Oliveira, CEO of MOXY
“ Winning this award means so much to me and my teammates. We believed in it so it feels amazing to be recognized for our hard work. Having this accomplishment has given us the confidence and reassurance we needed and is bound to propel us forward in our creative careers. ”
~ May Ruzicka, Art Director & Co-Creator of "Play It Forward"
“ We are thrilled to have won three gold awards for our project! This recognition not only validates our hard work and dedication but also inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in our industry. ”
~ Peter Csuz, Co-Founder of Fragmental
“ Winning in the award is nice and getting recognition from peers who understand all the challenges that go into bringing an idea to life and how fragile it can be, is certainly reassuring that you’re doing something right. ”
~ Mauricio Galván, Creative Director at Madwell
“ Being recognized by a prestigious international award is deeply rewarding. The entire team feels honored and delighted. We want to win many more awards in the future. ”
~ Natalia Almeida, Creative Director at Giusti Creative PR
“ The fact that it was this project that we chose to enter—and that it was recognized—says a lot about the quality and personality of work we will continue to strive for. ”
~ Zack Hopkins, Senior Designer at History Factory
“ Winning the award is a tremendous honor for us, our company, and our entire team. We are truly grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing to push the envelope in our future projects. ”
~ IN-VISIBLE Team
“ Winning the award validates that our work is resonating with brands and businesses, and underscores our primary objective as an agency - help our client’s grow. ”
~ John Sampogna, Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder of Wondersauce
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS ASSOCIATE
The International Awards Associate (IAA) is a group of industry innovators, creators, designers and communications professionals whose commitment is to move the industry forward through discovery and recognition of new and existing talent.
