Innovators Honoured: ad:tech Honours 2026 Reveals Winners Transforming the Marketing Landscape

Published on: April 9, 2026

NEW DELHI, March 17, 2026 – The second edition of the ad:tech Honours reached its pinnacle at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, as the industry’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies were crowned winners. Held on the sidelines of ad:tech New Delhi, the ceremony celebrated those at the intersection of creativity and technology, recognising the “engines” driving modern brand engagement.

Presented in association with the International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter and new partner Huella, the 2026 awards expanded to 22 categories, reflecting the surge in AI, Programmatic, and Retail Tech adoption over the past year.

2026 Awardees

Across a diverse spectrum of categories, the following winners were recognised for excellence in leveraging technology to deliver measurable impact:

Affiliate & Partner Marketing

Lyxel & Flamingo (Boat)- Silver

Paytm Ads (Giva)- Silver

AI & Creative Automation – AI-Driven Dynamic Creative Optimisation

Laqshya Media Limited (Tata Coffee)- Silver

Mobavenue Media Private Limited (Uniqlo)- Gold

AI & Creative Automation – Creative AI Collaboration

Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited (Dabur Amla)- Gold

The Salt Inc. Consulting Private Limited (Kotak Education Foundation)- Silver

AI Conversation Agents

Laqshya Media Limited (Marriott) Gold

AI in Marketing – Predictive AI

Strong Metrics (Navi)- Silver

Tyroo & Criteo (Libas)- Silver

Commerce & Retail Tech – Immersive Retail Tech

Orient Bell Limited- Silver

GenAI in Marketing – GenAI-Led Creative

Laqshya Media Limited (Marriott)- Silver

The Salt Inc. Consulting Private Limited (Kotak Education Foundation)- Silver

Sumimoto (Sumi Max)- Silver

Influencer Management

Publicis (Nescafé)- Silver

Influencer Marketing – Influencer Measurement & Analytics

Glad U Came Private Limited (Dominos)- Gold

Marketing Automation – Omnichannel Marketing Automation

CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. (Intel)- Silver

Globale Media (Paytm Money)- Silver

OTT Innovation

ADMOTT Private Limited- Silver

Performance Marketing – Search, SEO, and Performance Marketing

Arm Worldwide (Niva Bupa)- Silver

Publicis (Nespresso)- Gold

The Trade Desk (Spotify)- Silver

Programmatic & Emerging Media – Connected TV Advertising

Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd (Asus)- Silver

Lyxel and Flamingo (Boat Nirvana)- Silver

Mobavenue Media Private Limited (Boat)- Gold

Programmatic & Emerging Media – Interactive DOOH

Laqshya Media Limited (Tanishq)- Silver

Laqshya Media Limited (Tata Coffee)- Gold

Programmatic & Emerging Media – Retail Media Advertising

Cheggout Services Private Limited- Silver

Paytm Ads (Versuni)- Gold

Social Media – Community & UGC Engagement

Under 25 (Oppo)- Silver

Vayner Media India (Iqoo)- Gold

Innovation

Segumento- Silver

The ceremony underscored a significant shift in the marketing ecosystem, where the convergence of data and creativity is no longer optional but essential for success.

The expansion from 8 categories last year to 22 in 2026 highlights the rapid evolution and increasing complexity of the Indian MarTech ecosystem. This growth reflects a decisive shift toward specialised technological applications, from AI-driven creative automation and predictive intelligence to immersive commerce. By broadening the scope of recognition, the awards spotlight how data and creativity now work in tandem to optimise customer journeys and deliver high-performance business outcomes.

Beyond the trophies, the new partnership with Huella provided a tangible boost to this year’s innovators. Selected winners received NEXad advertising credits, a strategic incentive designed to amplify their success stories. This support enabled winners to leverage Connected TV (CTV) through interactive, high-impact formats, extending the reach of their pioneering work while showcasing the potential of next-generation media channels.

Read more: ad:tech New Delhi 2026 Concludes, Defining the ‘Human + Agentic’ Era of Marketing

 

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