The global creative industry is entering the final stage of one of its most relevant award cycles. The One Club for Creativity has announced the finalists for The One Show 2026, with 1,345 entries from 51 countries, highlighting the scale and competitiveness of this year’s edition.
All finalists are already guaranteed to win, with Gold, Silver, Bronze Pencils or Merits to be revealed on May 14 during Creative Week in New York, followed by the official awards ceremony on May 15 at Cipriani Wall Street.
This year, Rethink Toronto leads with 47 finalists, including work for Penguins International, IKEA, and Kraft Heinz. It is followed by Uncommon Creative Studio London with 34 finalists, while Apple, FCB Chicago, and VML New York each secured 26, reflecting strong competition among leading global agencies.
Now in its 17th year, Creative Week has become one of the industry’s key annual gatherings, not only celebrating creative excellence but also shaping the standards of what creativity means in today’s communication landscape.
This year’s program also introduces new formats, including the One Show Members Choice Award, alongside a range of events reflecting the growing influence of technology, from AI challenges to expert panels and portfolio reviews.
In that sense, The One Show continues to be more than an award. It remains a benchmark that defines where creativity stands today and where it is heading.
