INDIA
Advertising Club Madras Opens Submissions for the 44th Edition of MADDYS 2026: The Advertising Club Madras has announced the opening of submissions for the 44th edition of MADDYS 2026, starting 2 March 2026, with the final entry deadline set for 20 April 2026.
The early bird submission deadline is 18 March 2026. Entries can be submitted online at:
https://maddys2026.adclubmadras.com. To qualify for this year’s MADDYS, the work must have been first released between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
Award Categories
As in previous editions, MADDYS 2026 will recognise excellence across six award groups:
- Creative MADDYS
- Design & Print Craft MADDYS
- Film & Audio Craft MADDYS
- Regional Pride (Tamil) MADDYS
- Digital MADDYS
- Media MADDYS
Each category will be judged by a separate jury panel led by distinguished industry leaders.
Jury Chairpersons Announced
- Ashish Khazanchi, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Enormous Brands — Jury Chairperson, Creative MADDYS
- Anisha Iyer, CEO, OMD India — Jury Chairperson, Media MADDYS
- Sabyasachi Mitter, Founder & Managing Director, ibs Fulcro Consulting — Jury Chairperson, Digital MADDYS
Further jury announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Theme for 2026: KISS – Keep It Simple Silly
With a legacy spanning over four decades, MADDYS continues to recognise breakthrough work across creative disciplines.
The 2026 edition carries the theme “KISS – Keep It Simple Silly”, highlighting the power of simplicity in communication in an increasingly cluttered media landscape.
Leadership Perspective
Surej Salim, President, Advertising Club Madras, said:
“MADDYS has always brought together the best work, from independent boutiques to large networks, where ideas win purely on merit. That credibility defines this platform. We’re excited to see strong national and international participation once again and showcase the finest work in Chennai during the gala night in July.”
Kavitha Srinivasan, Secretary, Advertising Club Madras, added:
“We are thrilled to announce that MADDYS 2026 is set to uphold the highest standards of excellence, with a carefully refined category structure and a robust evaluation process ensuring fairness and credibility. Led by an exceptional line-up of Jury Chairs, esteemed industry leaders who will steer the judging process with expertise and insight, we’re all set for an outstanding edition.”
Updated Categories for a Changing Industry
To ensure the awards remain contemporary and globally competitive, the categories for MADDYS 2026 have been refreshed with inputs from industry leaders.
The process was led by the Adclub Executive Committee, supported by Honorary Jury Convenor and Process Auditor Gokul Krishnamoorthy.
The Digital MADDYS category, in particular, has been comprehensively restructured and benchmarked against global standards.
Eligibility and Participation
The awards are open to entrants from across India and internationally.
- All categories are language-agnostic, except
- Regional Pride MADDYS, which is exclusive to Tamil advertising.
Entry Details
For entry guidelines and submissions, visit: http://maddys2026.adclubmadras.com
For queries: 📧 admin@adclubmadras.com 📞 +91 82487 17152
