Chennai: Advertising Club Madras has announced the opening of submissions for the 44th edition of MADDYS 2026 from 2nd March 2026, with the final entry deadline set for 20th April 2026. Early bird submissions close on 18th March 2026.
Entries are accepted at https://maddys2026.adclubmadras.com.
To qualify for this year’s MADDYS, work must have been first released between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026.
Like last year, MADDYS will reward work across six groups – Creative MADDYS, Design & Print Craft MADDYS, Film & Audio Craft MADDYS, Regional Pride (Tamil) MADDYS, Digital MADDYS and Media MADDYS – each evaluated by a separate jury and led by distinguished chairpersons.
The 2026 Jury Chairpersons announced so far include:
- Ashish Khazanchi, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Enormous Brands, as Jury Chairperson, Creative MADDYS
- Anisha Iyer, CEO, OMD India, as Jury Chairperson, Media MADDYS
- Sabyasachi Mitter, Founder & MD, ibs Fulcro Consulting, as Jury Chairperson, Digital MADDYS
Further jury announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Keeping it Simple – and Contemporary
With over four decades of legacy, MADDYS continues to recognise breakthrough work across disciplines. The 2026 edition carries the theme KISS – Keep It Simple Silly, underscoring the idea that in an increasingly cluttered world, simplicity remains the ultimate sophistication.
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!”
To ensure the awards remain contemporary, categories for 2026 have been refreshed with inputs from industry leaders by the AdClub’s Executive Committee, aided by Honorary Jury Convenor and Process Auditor Gokul Krishnamoorthy. The Digital MADDYS category, in particular, has undergone a significant overhaul, benchmarked against global best practices.
The awards are open to entrants from across India and abroad. Except for Regional Pride MADDYS, which is exclusive to Tamil advertising, all other categories are language-agnostic.
For entry details and guidelines, visit: http://maddys2026.adclubmadras.com/
For queries, contact [email protected] / +91 82487 17152.
