The list of finalists for KAKTUS All Stars 2026 has been announced, linking campaign success with the contributions of the people who worked on them. The finalists include agency professionals and company representatives, with several names appearing in multiple categories, depending on the work they carried out on the submitted projects.
In the creative direction category, KAKTUS CMF – creative motherfucker, the finalists are Tonči Klarić from Spellcaster UK, Bojan Dodevski from McCann Skopje, Darko Bosnar from Imago Ogilvy and Petra Krulc from Futura DDB. Klarić and Dodevski are also among the finalists in the KAKTUS FIRE STARTER category for copywriting, alongside Katarina Ferk from Futura DDB.
Competing for the strategic planning award, KAKTUS ORIGIN, are Irina Maja from McCann Skopje, Dušan Antonijević from McCann Beograd and Tonči Klarić from Spellcaster UK. In the KAKTUS POWER RANGER category, which recognises Account Director work, the finalists are Dora Sandalić from Spellcaster UK, Iva Belovski from McCann Skopje, Urška Nučič from Futura DDB and Milena Maksić from Ovation BBDO.
The finalists in the art direction category, KAKTUS BIG PICTURE, are Lidija Milovanović from McCann Beograd, Neven Crljenak from Spellcaster UK, Boban Milanović and Petre Reshov from McCann Skopje, and Vesna Ibrišimović from Imago Ogilvy.
Crljenak, Milanović and Reshov are also in the running for the design award, KAKTUS PANTONE. The finalists in this category also include Oliver Petrović from Imago Ogilvy, and Vesna Žnidaršič, Pia Zavodnik and Matjaž Lužar from Futura DDB.
Nominated for their social media work in the KAKTUS LIKE-SHARE-SUBSCRIBE category are Sofija Sazdovska from McCann Skopje, Brigita Krog and Nika Pešut from Imago Ogilvy, and Jasna Kogej from Futura DDB. In the public relations category, KAKTUS FIRST IMPRESSION, the finalists are Krešimir Šustić, listed under aPR/Spellcaster UK, Nevena Sekulić from Two Rivers and Nikola Parun from Ovation BBDO.
In the running for KAKTUS BIG SEEN, the award recognising Media Director work, are Aleksandar Đorđević from UM, and Nika Kopajnik, Alenka Kanduč and Julija Kancler from Futura DDB.
The KAKTUS SUPERSTAR category is intended for company representatives and covers marketing directors or project leads on the client side. The finalists are Maja Naumovska Saveska from Halkbank Skopje, Denis Potočnik from McDonald’s Slovenija, and Oliver Vuco and Igor Drašković from Draco.
The recipients of these awards are determined by the total points earned through campaign results in the KAKTUS competition. Each finalist placement earns one point, an award win earns two, and a Grand Prix earns three points. The calculation includes categories for individual entries and integrated campaigns. In the event of a tie, the rules give priority to a greater number of award wins by category, or in the integrated campaign categories.
The special KAKTUS RISING STAR award is intended for young professionals up to the age of 32 who participate in the KAKTUS Talents competition. In addition to points for finalist placements and awards, the jury awards three additional points to the talent who particularly stands out during the finalists’ public presentations. The recipients of the KAKTUS All Stars awards will be announced during the festival on 4 and 5 November in Belgrade.
