Frequently asked questions

If you can't find the answer you need below, then reach out via our live chat which can be found at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen
or get in touch via email and a member of The Drum team will be able to help out.

About the awards


The awards are across EMEA, to advertising agencies, in-house marketing teams, design consultancies, digital agencies, PR companies, integrated agencies, and any company that has carried out marketing campaigns over the eligibility period.
 

If you’re a class A marketer producing class A work, then entering this event should be a no-brainer. Make a name for yourself and get entering today.


Early-bird deadline:  £475 + VAT
Official deadline:   £575 + VAT
Extended deadline : £675 + VAT



Early-bird deadline:
 Friday, November 29, 2024
Official deadline:   Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Extended deadline : Wednesday, March 26, 2025


This is a hard deadline so please ensure that all your work is submitted by then. The preferred method of payment is by card online via the website. Only if you are unable to complete payment by card, can you request an invoice by contacting the
Award Experts. This will then be required to be paid by the April judging date.



We announce the nominees via the website and you will also receive an email notifying you of the results, the winners will later be revealed during our live awards show. 

Nominations announced: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 3.00pm GMT
Winners announced: 
Wednesday, June 11 2025

Submitting your entries


To find out exactly how to enter, you can follow this handy guide.


Yes, if you save your entries as you go then you will be able to edit them up until the official entry deadline, via your entry dashboard.


You can pay via credit/debit/AMEX card on our website once your entries have been submitted.

Payments must be received by the entry deadline to qualify for judging.


Yes, you will be able to edit your entries up until the official deadline.

To edit your entries log on to your 'Dashboard' > 'Awards' > 'Nominations' and edit.

What are the benefits of entering?


Your work will take centre stage on
thedrum.com, the world's second-largest marketing site.


Your success will be celebrated through extensive editorial coverage, including case studies and interviews. Plus, you'll be featured in our annual Awards Report, a must-read for major global brands.


Your entry not only positions you for victory but also elevates your standing in the industry's definitive guide—
The World Creative Rankings.


Your work is not just a submission; it's a guaranteed showcase for the top decision-makers at the best brands. Who knows? Your next big client might be among them.


Gain exposure for your team to get the recognition they deserve.

Entry rules


Entries must have been live to market at some point between April 2024 and April 2025. Entries do not have to be created within this timescale.


All entries submitted must be legal. Any entries containing offensive material will be disqualified. Any entry that has a complaint upheld against it by the Advertising Standards Authority will be disqualified.


The judges reserve the right to re-allocate entries that in their view are entered in an incorrect category. The judges also reserve the right to remove categories where entries do not meet the standard for nomination.

These entries will not be refunded as they will have been judged accordingly.


For a full understanding of our Terms and Conditions,
find them here.

The judging process


Entries will be judged objectively on their own merit, regardless of budget, project size, or resource scale, ensuring fairness for all.

The jury will assess submissions based on three equally weighted criteria: Planning, Execution, and Results.

The jury will be looking for evidence of:
- Clear strategic thinking
- Creative excellence
- Tangible outcomes and effectiveness

After the panel has carried out their pre-judging, the judges will meet to discuss the entries and decide on gold, silver, and bronze winners. The judges' decision is final, and they reserve the right to move your entry into a more appropriate category if they feel the project is better suited elsewhere.

In these awards, not all categories are guaranteed to have Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. The decision to award is based on the quality of the work and whether it meets the judges' criteria.


After the final deadline, the judging panel will sign an NDA before they are given access to read your submission and view your images, videos, and links. By entering these awards, you give the organizers the right to publish/exhibit screen grabs and/or submitted reports. If you wish to upload a modified/less commercially sensitive version for publishing purposes, please do so on the entry upload form under the "publication" section.

Sure! You can nominate yourself, a colleague, or a client by completing this form with your details, and a member of The Drum team will be in touch should there be an opportunity to move forward.

Please keep in mind that the judging panels for the Marketing Awards are comprised strictly of individuals from the world's biggest brands. Meanwhile, the Drum Awards Festival has opportunities for individuals from both brands and agencies to get involved.

We welcome applications from all. More information regarding the criteria can be found on the application form.


Please note that we cannot guarantee judges' feedback on individual entries, however, if you would like a better understanding of the process, get in touch via our live chat
 or email where you can speak with a member of The Drum team.