The Web Marketing Association judges will select the best email advertising campaigns in 86 industries as part of their 24th annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Companies or agencies wishing to nominate their email marketing work for consideration may do so at www.IACward.org before the deadline January 30, 2026.
“Email marketing remains the connective tissue of the modern marketing mix—linking search, social, content, and paid media into a coherent customer journey,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “What began as simple text blasts has evolved into sophisticated, highly personalized campaigns that speak to specific segments with precision. The most effective programs marry creativity and innovation with disciplined design, accessibility, and measurement. That’s exactly what the IAC Awards recognize. When your email work earns an IAC, you gain independent validation that your lifecycle strategy doesn’t just perform—it leads. That credibility strengthens budget discussions, reassures executives, and gives sales and account teams a powerful proof point with clients and prospects.”
The 2026 Internet Advertising Competition Awards is industry based and will accept entries from 86 industries, including construction, computer hardware, consumer goods, credit unions, medical, financial services, real estate and small business just to name a few. Entries judged to be outstanding will receive an IAC Award. The entry receiving the highest score in each industry will be recognized as the best email advertisement for that industry.
Past Best of Show Email Campaigns winners include:
2025 CRC Companies for Oakland School’s Holiday Fundraising Campaign
2024 Ad Cucina for Biscuit Belly e-mail campaign
2023 John Hancock for Year 1 Onboarding
2022 Data Axle for Defy Logic Email
2021 Zeta Global | Sprint | Tmobile for SPRINT Samsung Galaxy S20 5G Launch
2020 Scoppechio for Longhorn Steakhouse email campaign
2019 TMV Group for Faygo Email Newsletter
2018 Sanky Communications for Vera Fall/Welcome Series
2017 USA Network for Mr. Robot Email Campaign
2016 USA Network for Mr. Robot Email Campaign
2015 Acxiom Digital Impact for L’Oreal Mousse Absolue Campaign
2014 FVM Strategic Communications for OCE “Choose My Future” Email Nurturing Campaign
2013 McCann Digital Israel for Designed for Peace
2012 VerticalResponse for Customers Get Their Deal On VerticalResponse
2011 CDMG Inc. for Coffey Anderson – Email campaign
2010 PGATOUR.COM and Datran Media’s StormPost for PGATOUR.COM Scores Hole in One with Video in Email
Past Best of Show Email Messages Winners include:
2025 RPE Origin for Sweeps Email
2024 Ad Cucina for Biscuit Belly e-mail campaign
2023 Marriott International & Data Axle for Marriott Bonvoy Year in Review Generates Engagement with Hyper-Personalized Content
2022 University of Guam for University of Guam Student Recruitment Campaign Fall 2021
2021 Sanky Inc for Habitat for Horses Giving Tuesday Campaign
2020 Olive Garden for Olive Garden – New Year
2019 Zeta Creative | Giant Food Stores for Giant Food Stores Halloween Sweet Spot
2018 Drum Agency for AT&T Surprise Offer December Email Promotion
2017 Sanky Communications for Covenant House 2,000 Heroes for Homeless Kids
2016 Orange Label Art for Advertising – Greenwell Farms: Holiday Email Campaign
2015 Miles and Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa For Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Email
2014 Acxiom Digital Impact for Garnier Stylefinder Email
2013 Marketing Results, Inc. for Marketing Results Holiday Email
2012 TMP Worldwide for ESPN – Tutu Email
2011 e-Dialog, Inc. for e-Dialog 2010 Holiday Card
2010 e-Dialog, Inc. for e-Dialog 2009 Holiday Card
The 2026 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are open to all organizations and individuals (advertising and interactive agencies, corporate marketing departments, etc.) involved in the process of developing Internet advertising. Entries may be submitted online at http://www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 30, 2026 and will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.
In addition to individual email creative and email campaigns, Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats such as:
- Social Media
- Online Video
- Rich media ads
- Web sites (including microsites and landing pages)
- Online ads (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)
- Online applications
- Online newsletter campaign
- Integrated ad campaign
- Mobile Apps
“We believe that winning an industry specific award is more valuable to the participant. It allows the participants to be judges against their peers, just like in the marketplace,” said Rice.
Interactive agencies that win multiple awards will also be in the running for Top Agency Award. In a change from prior years, each entrant will be awarded points based on the level of award for each award received. A Best of Show will be worth 5 points, Best of Industry 3 points and each Outstanding award 1 point. The agency with the most points will be awarded the Top Agency Award.
In an effort to recognize those organizations that demonstrate exceptional development skills across multiple entries, agencies that win more the 6 awards will also be recognized with an Outstanding Advertising Developer award from the Web Marketing Association. In 2025, four agencies won this honor.
Judging for the IAC Awards will take place in February, 2026. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet advertising professionals with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web advertising. Past competition judges have included top executives from leading corporations, institutions and media organizations such as Arc Worldwide, Beeby Clark+Meyler, Brunner Digital, Campbell-Ewald, CNN, Deep Interactive Asia, Digitas, EuroRSCG 4D, Google, IBM Interactive, JWT, Mastercard, McCann Worldgroup, Possible, SapientRazorfish, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Small Army, Tectis GmbH, TMP Worldwide, Universal McCann Interactive and Wunderman / Y&R.
A complete list of past winners can be found at the IAC Award Website.
About the Web Marketing Association
The Web Marketing Association is an organization working to create a high standard of excellence for Web site development and marketing on the Internet. Staffed by volunteers, it is made up of Internet marketing, advertising, PR and design professionals who share an interest in improving the quality of online advertising, Internet marketing and promotion used to attract visitors to Web sites. The Web Marketing Association’s annual award programs, the WebAward Competition, MobileWebAwards and the Internet Advertising Competition Awards, have been helping interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world since 1997.