The presentation of one of the longest-running global awards in the fields of design and advertising gains a strong authorial presence this year. Stefan Sagmeister, the world-renowned designer, will host the ADC 105th Annual Awards ceremony, set to take place on May 13 in New York as part of Creative Week 2026.
The ADC Annual Awards, continuously held for more than a century, remains one of the key global benchmarks for creative work in advertising and design. This year’s edition will be held at Capitale in New York.
It is an event that has, for decades, brought together the top of the industry around questions of craft, innovation and creative excellence, with the choice of host further underscoring its symbolic and professional significance.
Sagmeister, born in Austria and now based in New York, is one of the few authors whose work consistently crosses the boundaries between design, art and culture. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with clients such as Rolling Stones, HBO and the Guggenheim Museum, and his work has been recognised with numerous international awards, including two Grammy Awards. As early as 1996, he was part of the first generation of ADC Young Guns award recipients.
His public and educational work also holds a significant place within the industry. His lectures often focus on themes such as happiness, beauty and their connection to design, while his five TED talks place him among the platform’s most frequently invited speakers.
Sagmeister is also the author of several books that have reached hundreds of thousands of readers, while his exhibitions have been presented in museums worldwide. Among them, The Happy Show stands out, attracting more than half a million visitors and becoming the most visited graphic design exhibition in history.
The Art Directors Club highlights that the choice of host reflects his long-standing influence on the industry and his ability to connect creative work with broader social and cultural contexts.
Creative Week, now in its 17th year, further expands its focus through a series of accompanying programs and initiatives. In addition to the main awards – ADC Annual Awards, The One Show, One Show Indies and Young Ones Student Awards, this year’s edition also includes content dedicated to current industry topics, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence.
The program includes The One Club AI Creative Challenge, as well as the Executive Creative Summit 2026, both addressing the impact of AI on creative processes, ways of working and the future of the industry.
