The Drum Commerce Media Awards are global and open to anyone delivering innovative work across the commerce media landscape, whether you're leading strategy, crafting creative, building platforms, or driving measurable results.

We welcome entries from:

Brands & Advertisers: from global CPG and FMCG leaders to emerging DTC challengers, if you're using commerce media to engage shoppers, influence purchase, or grow your business, this is your space to showcase results.

Agencies: media, advertising, creative, shopper marketing, and commerce specialists driving performance, innovation, or breakthrough ideas for clients.

Retailers & Commerce Media Networks: from global retail platforms to regional networks, highlight your innovations, evolution, and measurable outcomes in commerce media. 

Technology Partners: DSPs, retail media tech, analytics, AI tools, and attribution platforms enabling the commerce media ecosystem.

If you're helping shape the world's fastest-growing media channel, these awards are for you.

The cost per entry is: 

Early-bird deadline:  $595 + sales tax (if applicable)
Official deadline:  $695 + sales tax (if applicable)
Extended deadline : $795 + sales tax (if applicable)

Early-bird deadline:  Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Official deadline:   Thursday, January 21, 2027
Extended deadline : Thursday, February 11, 2027

This is a hard deadline so please ensure that all your work is submitted by then. The preferred method of payment is by card online via the website. Only if you are unable to complete payment by card, can you request an invoice by contacting the Award Experts. This will then be required to be paid by no later than 1 month after the extended deadline date. 

Shortlist Announcement
In the first round of judging, our panel will review all entries to select the official shortlist. Being shortlisted/nominated is a major achievement, every shortlisted entry will go on to receive either an award of either Gold, Silver or Bronze level. The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday, March 10 2027 at 12pm ET here on the site, and entrants will also receive an email notification.

Honors Ceremony & Winners
Gold, Silver and Bronze award recipients will be revealed at the Commerce Media Honors Ceremony in EAST hotel, Miami on Monday, April 5 2027. Being on the shortlist means you’ve already made a strong impression on the judges and are guaranteed a trophy.  Now join us to discover exactly what you’ve won, gold, silver or bronze. 

Celebrate with the industry in one of America’s most vibrant and dynamic cities as we honour the best people, the best companies and the best work. You can find more details and book your tickets on the ceremony page.

To find out exactly how to enter, you can follow this handy guide.

Yes, if you save your entries as you go then you will be able to edit them up until the official entry deadline, via your entry dashboard.

You can pay via credit/debit/AMEX card on our website once your entries have been submitted.

Any invoiced Payments must be received by the extended entry deadline to qualify for judging.

Yes, you will be able to edit your entries up until the official deadline.

To edit your entries log on to your 'Dashboard' > 'Awards' > 'Nominations' and edit.

After the extended deadline date, editing will close for the duration of the judging period. Following the announcement of nominations, you will have the opportunity to review your submitted entry.

Should you identify any required corrections (such as updates to credits, logos, or spelling), you will be permitted one round of amendments at no additional cost. Any subsequent changes may be made through our entry amendment service, which incurs an administration fee of $50 per amendment.

Please contact the team should you require this service.

Your work will take centre stage on thedrum.com, the world's second-largest marketing site.

Your success will be celebrated through extensive editorial coverage, including case studies and interviews. Plus, you'll be featured in our annual Awards Report, a must-read for major global brands.

Your entry not only positions you for victory but also elevates your standing in the industry's definitive guide—The World Creative Rankings.

Your work is not just a submission; it's a guaranteed showcase for the top decision-makers at the best brands. Who knows? Your next big client might be among them.

Gain exposure for your team to get the recognition they deserve.

Entries are eligible if the work was launched or live in market between March 2026 and March 2027

All entries submitted must be legal. Any entries containing offensive material will be disqualified. Any entry that has a complaint upheld against it by the Advertising Standards Authority will be disqualified.

The judges reserve the right to re-allocate entries that in their view are entered in an incorrect category. The judges also reserve the right to remove categories where entries do not meet the standard for nomination.

These entries will not be refunded as they will have been judged accordingly.

For a full understanding of our Terms and Conditions, find them here.

Entries will be judged objectively on their own merit, regardless of budget, project size, or resource scale, ensuring fairness for all.

Judges evaluate submissions across three equally weighted criteria: Planning, Execution, and Results. These criteria are adapted where appropriate to reflect the specific focus of each category.

The jury will be looking for evidence of:
- Clear strategic thinking - insight, rationale, and innovative approaches to commerce media challenges.
- Creative excellence - originality, inventive use of media, and ideas that push the category forward.
- Tangible outcomes and effectiveness - measurable business outcomes, incremental lift, and proof of success.

After pre-judging, the jury meets to discuss entries and assign Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. Judges may move entries to a more appropriate category if needed.

Not all categories are guaranteed winners; awards are only given where entries meet the judges’ standards for quality, innovation, and impact.

After the final deadline, the judging panel will sign an NDA before they are given access to read your submission and view your images, videos, and links. By entering these awards, you give the organizers the right to publish/exhibit screen grabs and/or submitted reports. If you wish to upload a modified/less commercially sensitive version for publishing purposes, please do so on the entry upload form under the "publication" section.

Sure! You can nominate yourself, a colleague, or a client by completing this form with your details, and a member of The Drum team will be in touch should there be an opportunity to move forward.

Please keep in mind that the judging panels are comprised strictly of individuals from the world's biggest brands. 

We welcome applications from all. More information regarding the criteria can be found on the application form.

Please note that we cannot guarantee judges' feedback on individual entries, however, if you would like a better understanding of the process, get in touch via our live chat  or email where you can speak with a member of The Drum team.