London: D&AD, the global non-profit organisation championing excellence in design and commercial creativity, has unveiled the jury for the 2026 D&AD Awards, bringing together leading creative experts from more than 40 countries to judge the world’s most prestigious creative honours.
For the 2026 edition, 11 creatives from India will serve on the international jury, including one jury president, underlining India’s growing influence across design, craft, and creative innovation. The Indian jurors represent a diverse range of disciplines:
- Animation – Suresh Eriyat
- Brand Transformation – Shitu Patil
- Casting – Ryan Mendonca
- Commerce – P. G. Aditya
- Entertainment – Josy Paul
- Experiential: Activation & Participation – Kainaz Karmakar
- Illustration – Arjun Mukherjee
- Media – Sanchita Roy
- Photography – Prashant Godbole
- Press & Outdoor – Pallavi Chakravarti
- Type Design & Lettering – Noopur Datye
This year’s jury composition reflects the evolving structure of the creative industry. Independent studios now account for around half of the jury panel, alongside a growing number of brand-side creative leaders from global companies such as Lego, Unilever and adidas. The mix highlights the breadth of creative leadership today, spanning agencies, brands, and independent studios, while maintaining the rigorous standards D&AD is known for.
The 2026 Awards also align with D&AD’s broader industry provocation through its Creativity is Alive manifesto, encouraging creatives, brands and studios to demonstrate that creativity thrives through meaningful action and world-class work.
The D&AD Awards will return in May 2026, with live judging scheduled from 17–20 May and winners announced on 20 May. Alongside the awards, the D&AD Festival will take place at London’s Southbank on 19–20 May, featuring Insight Sessions that explore the work championed by juries, the debates inside jury rooms, and emerging industry themes.
The Festival will also include keynote talks curated by D&AD President Lisa Smith, as well as the Yellow Pencil Showcase, where winning work from 2026 will be revealed and discussed with input from jury presidents.
In a move to support the creative community during a challenging industry period, D&AD will provide a number of free festival tickets to creatives who have recently been made redundant.
D&AD’s highest accolade, the Black Pencil, along with the President’s Award, individual rankings and Company of the Year, will be announced separately in September.
Across 46 categories, juries will assess entries based on the core principles that have defined D&AD for more than six decades: originality, craft, and creative excellence. The peer-led judging process remains focused on work that pushes the industry forward.
In 2025, India secured 30 winning entries, further reinforcing the country’s strong standing on the global creative stage.
Donal Keenan, D&AD COO said, “As a global non-profit, D&AD exists to uphold creative standards for the industry. The Awards are judged by creatives, for creatives and this year’s jury reflects the reality of how great work is made today, while maintaining the rigour and integrity that have defined D&AD for more than six decades.”
Lisa Smith, D&AD President and Uncommon Global Chief Design Officer, said, “Creativity thrives when it’s actively supported, challenged and put into practice. 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.”
Entries for the D&AD Awards 2026 are now open. Festival tickets will go on sale from 12 February via the D&AD website, with additional judges to be announced in the coming days.
