European Communications Awards
European Communications Awards 2026
Celebrating Excellence in European Communication
About the Awards
The European Communications Awards are the flagship honours of the European Association of Communications Directors (EACD), the pan-European network founded in Brussels in 2006 to connect and strengthen communications leaders across industries and countries.
The Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in professional communications, highlighting the strategic role that communications plays in shaping organisational success and contributing to society. Each year, the EACD honours individuals, teams and companies whose work advances the communications profession and demonstrates excellence in strategy, innovation, impact, and leadership.
By showcasing best practices and innovative approaches, the Awards elevate the profile of the communications profession in Europe and foster a culture of excellence. Winners and finalists are celebrated at the annual EACD Summit in June – one of the most important milestones in the European communications calendar.
Being shortlisted or winning an Award signals professional excellence. Click here to see previous winners.
Awards in 2026
In 2026, the European Communications Awards has four categories, each designed to highlight different facets of excellence in communications.
- EACD Communications Excellence Award
- EACD Communications Leadership Award
- EACD Communications Innovation Award
- EACD Communications Impact Award
Winners will be announced on 18 June 2026 at the EACD Summit in Brussels.
Get involved
Communicators are invited to actively participate in the European Communications Awards this year by:
- Nominating an organisation for the EACD Communications Excellence Award
- Nominating an individual communicator for the EACD Communications Leadership Award
- Entering your communications program or project for the EACD Communications Innovation Award and showcasing your team’s achievements
- Serving as a judge for the inaugural EACD Communications Innovation Award.
Expressions of interest are welcomed from senior EACD members until Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
Please email us at [email protected] to volunteer for this role. - Attending the Awards ceremony at the EACD Summit in Brussels
Details on how to nominate or enter the Awards are included under the descriptions below.
All nominations and entries close on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Award details
1. Communications Excellence Award
The EACD Communications Excellence Award recognises an organisation and its communications team that demonstrates excellence and best practice in communications.
(The winning organisation will demonstrate excellence in communications across Europe or internationally, the ability to break barriers or build bridges through effective communication and a meaningful contribution to organisational success and broader society.
Who can nominate:
All EACD members may nominate an organisation. Nominated companies do not need to be a member of the EACD to receive this award.
Judging:
This award is judged by a panel comprising EACD Board members, Country Chapter Leads and previous award winners.
2. Communications Leadership Award
The EACD Communications Leadership Award honours an individual whose career or recent work reflects outstanding leadership in communications that inspires peers and elevates the profession. This may include outstanding leadership in corporate, non-profit or academic environments, pioneering innovation in the field of communications or a career marked by exceptional professional impact or lifetime achievement in our field.
Who can nominate:
Anyone (EACD member or non-member) can nominate candidates for this award.
Candidates do not need to be a member of the EACD to receive this award.
Judging:
This award is judged by a panel comprising EACD Board members, Country Chapter Leads and previous award winners.
3. Communications Innovation Award
The EACD Communications Innovation Award celebrates a team that has delivered outstanding innovation in a communications campaign or program during 2025 – including creativity and innovation in approach, tools or strategies, clear impact and measurable outcomes and strong teamwork and execution in a changing communications landscape.
This is the inaugural year of the award and offers teams an opportunity for European-level recognition for their impactful work.
Eligibility:
Open to all communicators (EACD members and non-members) and organisations across Europe.
Entry fees:
- EACD members: €80 (including VAT)
- Non-members: €150 (including VAT)
Judging:
Entries will be assessed by a panel of senior EACD members.
4. Communications Impact Award
A shortlist of companies for this category is created from analysis undertaken by ratings agency, R.A.T.E., along with a follow-up survey and additional data gathering. The Award is judged by EACD board members.
FAQs
Who can apply for the EACD Awards?
Organisations, communications teams and individual communication leaders across Europe can participate. Any communicator (EACD member on non-member) can nominate an individual for the Communications Leadership Award and a team for the Communications Innovation Award. EACD members can also nominate a company for the Communications Excellence Award.
Do nominees or entrants need to be EACD members?
Any communicator (EACD member on non-member) can nominate an individual for the Communications Leadership Award and a team for the Communications Innovation Award. EACD members can also nominate a company for the Communications Excellence Award.
Can agencies apply?
The focus of the awards is on in-house communications leadership and organisational impact. Agencies may be involved as partners in projects but are not the primary award recipients.
What type of work is eligible?
Eligible work includes strategic communications programmes, organisational communication initiatives, leadership contributions, and innovative campaigns with measurable impact. Criteria is included on the entry form.
How are winners selected?
All nominations and submissions are reviewed by jury teams comprised of EACD Board Members, Country Chapter Leads, past winners, and senior EACD members. Evaluation is based on category criteria.
When will winners be announced?
Winners are announced and celebrated during the EACD Summit each year. In 2026, the announcement is made on 18 June in Brussels.
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes. Organisations and individuals may be involved in multiple submissions across different categories.
Can I save my entry form and return to it later?
No. The form must be completed in one session. Once you begin, you won’t be able to save your progress or return to it later, so please make sure you have all necessary information ready before you start.
Is there an entry fee?
There is an entry fee for teams entering the EACD Communications Innovation Award – €80 for EACD members and €150 for non-members. There is no entry fee for nomination categories.
Previous winners
2025
EACD Communications Excellence Winner: Sanofi for “A Million Conversations”, their global health equity initiative
EACD Communications Leadership Award Winner: Lynette Jackson, Chief Communications Officer, The Adecco Group
EACD Impact Award: Schneider Electric
2024
EACD Communications Excellence Winner: CERN and its Education, Communications and Outreach team
