D&AD 2026 Poses the Question: Is Creativity Alive?
Having run for over six decades, D&AD has long been recognised for pioneering its awards programme and championing excellence in design and creative communication. As a global non-profit, it has also established itself as a platform for provocation within the industry, consistently inviting creatives to reflect on the state, value, and future of their work. In 2026, the upcoming D&AD Awards Festival embraces the question “Is Creativity Alive?”, framed not as a definitive statement, but as an open investigation into the future, transformation, or potential erosion of creative practice.
First introduced in November 2025, the theme was positioned as both an invitation for collective reflection and a subtle, satirical response to contemporary creative life. Rather than offering a prescriptive answer, D&AD deliberately left the question unresolved to encourage public debate and interpretation amongst industry players. This philosophical experiment has since unfolded through a series of touchpoints: testimonials from design veterans, punchy billboard statements, and early signals embedded within the Awards’ programming. From AI and brand transformation to sports and entertainment, the breadth of themes underscores both the urgency of the question and the ambiguity of its possible answers.
In this sense, the D&AD Awards may function as a challenge (to creatives, studios, and brands alike) to respond through action rather than rhetoric. The work submitted becomes a form of testimony, proposing that creativity is not only alive, but adaptive, which has been reflected in this year’s jury selection. Those who were chosen as juries are visual representatives of the organisational ethos of mirroring and oftentimes obsctructing the realities of today’s creative landscape. With increased representation from independent studios and brand-side leaders (including Lego, Unilever, and Adidas), the jury creates space for dialogue and debate across disciplines, scales, and perspectives.
“This year’s jury brings together people who are deeply involved in making great work happen, and who understand the responsibility that comes with recognising and championing creative excellence,” says D&AD President and Uncommon Global Chief Design Officer Lisa Smith. The 2026 Awards will be overseen by more than 300 jurors across 46 categories, signalling both the scope of the programme and the complexity of the creative ecosystem it aims to represent.
Among the global creative leaders selected, two Indonesian designers have been appointed as jurors: editorial designer Jordan Marzuki of Jordan, jordan Édition, and Artnivora Creative Director Henricus Linggawidjaja. Both creatives announced their participation via Instagram, with Jordan expressing his hope to “see more book designs from the Global South, where answers may lie,” and Henricus offering a cryptic invitation for Magazine & Newspaper Design entries. Their inclusion into the panel indicates a broader expansion of global creative narratives — and marks Indonesian creativity as an active voice in shaping the direction of contemporary design discourse.
The D&AD Awards will return in May 2026, with live judging taking place from 17–20 May and winners announced on 20 May. Running alongside the Awards, the D&AD Festival will be held across London’s Southbank on 19–20 May. The festival will feature Insight Sessions that unpack the work championed and challenged by judges, conversations drawn from inside the jury room, and discussions on the themes and trends emerging across categories. Keynote talks curated by Lisa Smith will sit alongside the Yellow Pencil Showcase, offering deeper insight into the winning work through the perspectives of jury presidents.
In a continued effort to support the creative community, the festival will also offer a number of free tickets to creatives who have been made redundant, reinforcing D&AD’s evolving commitment to accessibility and industry care during uncertain times.
Entries for the D&AD Awards are now open. Key dates are listed below, and full details on categories, judging criteria, pricing, and deadlines can be found on the D&AD website.
Key Dates
11 February 2026: Early Bird Discount Deadline (save 20% on entries)
19 March 2026: Final Awards Entry Deadline
19–20 May 2026: Shortlist Announced
20 May 2026: D&AD Pencils Announced
19–20 May 2026: D&AD Festival
September 2026: D&AD Awards Ceremony
Tickets for the D&AD Festival will go on sale on 12 February via the D&AD website.
