Final Days for Early Bird Entries at Golden Drum
Agencies across the region have seven days left to secure Early Bird entries and compete for the Adriatic Agency of the Year title.
Agencies from across the region have just seven days left to submit their work to this year’s Golden Drum under Early Bird conditions. The deadline expires on 17 June, with entries submitted by then benefiting from a 15% reduction in entry fees.
For the regional industry, one of the most closely watched competitions remains the race for the Adriatic Agency of the Year title, an award that has become a benchmark of creative excellence in Southeast Europe. Last year’s winner was Via Media from Sarajevo, while previous recipients included McCann Skopje and McCann Beograd.
The winner for 2026 will be announced during the festival’s awards ceremony on 13 October in Portorož.
This year’s edition also introduces a new recognition developed in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award will honour work that addresses gender equality, challenges harmful stereotypes and contributes to building a more inclusive society. Entries for this category remain open until 26 August.
The festival continues its support of emerging talent through the Young Drummers Competition, organised in partnership with Mastercard Slovenia. This year’s brief, “World. One Tap Away.”, is open to creatives under the age of 30 from around the world. The winning entry will receive a €1,000 cash prize, while all shortlisted participants will be awarded a festival pass.
Organisers have also revealed the first speakers confirmed for this year’s festival. Among them are jury presidents Xavier Blais (Rethink), Islam ElDessouky (The Coca-Cola Company), Emma Follett (Design Bridge and Partners), David Guerrero (BBDO Guerrero), Carl Ewald Jannerfeldt (Rocket-Science) and Joanna Lawrence (Havas Media Network).
This year’s Golden Drum will take place from 12 to 13 October in Portorož, bringing together creative and communications professionals from across Europe and beyond.
