Welcome to the Chief Marketing Officer awards 2026!

It's time to shine a spotlight on the brilliant minds shaping our industry. Who are the trailblazers, the game-changers, the visionaries in marketing that deserve recognition? We want to hear from you!

Nominations are now open, and we're eagerly awaiting your submissions. Whether it's a groundbreaking campaign, an exceptional individual, or a team that's redefining excellence, we want to know who's pushing the boundaries of marketing in 2026.

Want to nominate your kick-ass team? Go ahead! Want to pat yourself on the back? Knock yourself out! We’ve got a whole bunch of exciting categories to choose from:

The CMO Alliance will be awarding 

  • CMO of the Year
  • AI-Native Marketing Campaign of the Year
  • Marketing Team of the Year

Key dates

💌 Submission deadline: October 7, 2026 (midnight GMT)
🌟 Shortlists announced: October 23, 2026
📣 Polling round: October 26 - October 30, 2026
🏆 Winners announced: December 1, 2026

2026 award categories

The CMO Alliance is rewarding: 

CMO of the Year

Not everyone can handle the heat at the top. This one's for the C-suite marketer who's not just talking the talk, but walking the walk, day in and day out.

We're looking for a marketing mastermind with eight-plus years in the game and at least two years leading from the top seat. Someone who's driving revenue, growing the brand, scaling the org, and setting the vision everyone else follows.

Got a CMO who's been crushing it at the highest level? Don't let them fly under the radar. Nominate the C-suite superstar who deserves the recognition.

AI-Native Marketing Campaign of the Year

AI-as-an-add-on is old news. This award is for the campaign that couldn't exist without it.

We're looking for the marketer who built a campaign from the ground up with AI baked into the architecture, not bolted onto the side. Think AI shaping the decisions, running the execution loops, and doing real creative heavy lifting, not just speeding up a task that a human was already doing.

Judging isn't just about the tech. We want to see the creative thinking behind it, and the results it drove. Impact that wouldn't have been possible the old way.

Built something genuinely AI-native this year? Show us the creative, show us the results, and get your nomination in.

Marketing Team of the Year

Behind every big win is a team that made it happen.

This year, we're recognizing the marketing teams making their mark through growth, collaboration, and smart execution. We're looking at investment in learning and development, campaign performance, cross-team teamwork, and the growth metrics to back it all up.

Got a marketing team that deserves the spotlight? Get your nominations in and celebrate what they've achieved together.

Vote now

The judging criteria

We're looking for exceptional candidates who exemplify excellence in marketing. The ideal recipients of these prestigious awards will demonstrate:

  • Leadership and innovation across the marketing spectrum, including but not limited to C-suite executives who are driving positive change in the industry.
  • Tangible results and measurable impact. We want to see hard data showcasing achievements such as revenue growth, increased deal closure rates, enhanced lead generation, improved processes, or successful team empowerment initiatives.
  • Peer recognition and endorsements. Compelling testimonials from colleagues that highlight the nominee's outstanding qualities and contributions will significantly strengthen their candidacy.
  • Unique qualities or achievements that set the nominee apart from their peers and demonstrate their exceptional value to the field of marketing.

We encourage you to provide comprehensive details that paint a vivid picture of why you or your nominee deserves this recognition. The more compelling evidence you can provide, the stronger the application will be.

Community Awards – Terms & FAQs

What makes a strong nomination?

Nominations with clear, data-driven reasoning and concrete examples are more likely to stand out.

Does length matter?

Quality matters more than word count. A concise, well-evidenced nomination is more effective than a long one.

How are nominations judged?

Our internal panel of experts carefully reviews every submission. They take a fair, balanced, and comprehensive look at all entries before deciding on a shortlist and winners.

Can I nominate more than once?

Yes! You may submit multiple nominations if you’d like to highlight different work, or encourage colleagues and peers to support your nomination.

Who can submit a nomination?

The short answer is, well - anyone! You can either self-nominate or have someone else to nominate you/your team.

What happens after I submit?

Once nominations close you’ll get a confirmation confirming we’re received your nomination. After the close date, our judging panel will review submissions, publish the shortlist, and announce the overall winners during the awards live broadcast listed above.

Is there a deadline?

Yes, ensure you are submitting your nomination between the dates listed above. Late nominations will not be considered.