📌About the Event

The New York Festivals Health Awards 2026 is a global creative competition recognizing outstanding advertising and communication work in the healthcare, wellness, and pharmaceutical sectors. Organized by New York Festivals, the awards have celebrated excellence in health advertising since 1957. The 2026 edition features 26 category groups across Health & Wellness and Pharmaceutical advertising, rewarding innovative campaigns that combine creativity, strategy, and effective health communication.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Mode of Conduct: Online submission of entries through the New York Festivals Health Awards portal.
• Entries are reviewed and evaluated by international jury panels comprising leading creative and healthcare advertising professionals.
• The competition has two major sections:
• Health & Wellness
• Pharmaceutical
• The 2026 competition includes 12 Health & Wellness category groups and 14 Pharmaceutical category groups.
• Entrants can submit work across eligible categories including film, digital/mobile, social media, health awareness, innovation, design, integrated campaigns, strategy and effectiveness, and more.
• Multiple category submissions are permitted, but a separate entry fee applies for every category selected.

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📅 Important Dates

• Early Entry Period: July 16–August 19, 2026.
• Early Deadline: August 19, 2026.
• Official Entry Period: August 20–September 23, 2026.
• Official Deadline: September 23, 2026.
• Final Entry Period: September 24–October 22, 2026.
• Final Deadline: October 22, 2026.
• Judging Sessions: October–November 2026.
• Shortlist Announcement: November 2026.
• Tower Winners Announcement: November 2026.

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Entries may be submitted in multiple categories; however, a separate fee applies to each category.
• Entries are reviewed by New York Festivals before judging, including checking whether the selected category is appropriate.
• The jury may move an entry into another category if it determines that the work is better suited elsewhere.
• Accepted submission formats include:
  • MOV
  • MP4
  • MP3
  • PDF
  • Website URLs
• Case-study videos should be no longer than 3 minutes.
• Website links submitted as entries or supporting material must remain active through November 2026.
• AI-generated or AI-assisted elements are permitted, but:
• The work must represent a genuine creative campaign.
• Campaigns must have been client-approved and publicly published or aired.
• Results and metrics cannot be fabricated or exaggerated.
• AI cannot be used to simulate nonexistent campaigns or media placements.

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Grand Award
• Gold Tower
• Silver Tower
• Bronze Tower
• Finalist recognition
• Big Apple Award for outstanding NGO/non-profit health advertising focused on prevention, wellness, and impactful solutions to health issues.
• Winning work receives international exposure through:
  • New York Festivals’ official website
  • Winners Gallery
  • Email announcements
  • Social media
  • Industry press releases and media coverage.
• Additional industry honours include:
  • Holding Company of the Year
  • Health Network of the Year
  • Health Agency of the Year.