Who can apply?

The awards are open to brands, agencies and organisations operating in the Middle East. Eligible work must have been executed between January 2025 and December 2025. Submissions must be in English. Agencies may submit on behalf of clients. Solution providers may nominate clients but may not nominate themselves.

Why apply?

• Regional visibility: Winners and shortlisted entries are promoted across Martechvibe channels and the Awards Compendium.
• Independent validation: Jury recognition strengthens commercial pitches, client relationships and employer branding.
• Business impact: Award recognition supports sales, partnership conversations and talent attraction.
• Editorial & speaking opportunities: Winners may be invited to feature in Martechvibe editorial and event programming.

What categories can I enter?

Entries must be submitted to one of the two categories:

• Industry Campaigns — Best digital campaign in a specific industry (judged on Creativity, Technology, Strategy).
• Technical Excellence — Best use of martech/adtech tools or technical execution (judged on Implementation & Innovation, Impact, Scalability).

See the full category list on the Categories page.

What are the judging criteria and weightings?

Industry Campaigns: Creativity / Cultural Resonance — 40% • Technology & Execution — 30% • Strategy & Measurable Impact — 30%
Technical Excellence: Implementation & Innovation — 40% • Measurable Impact — 45% • Scalability & Governance — 15%  

A panel of eight independent industry leaders will evaluate all eligible submissions.

Who judges the awards?

An independent jury of 7 senior industry leaders — brand CMOs, CX and digital heads, agency strategists and transformation leaders. Jury membership will be published prior to shortlist announcements.

How many times can I apply?

You may submit multiple nominations across categories. Each entry requires a separate submission and fee.

How do I write a successful Marquee Awards nomination?

A strong Marquee Awards entry clearly demonstrates how marketing and technology came together to deliver measurable impact. The jury reviews every submission in detail, so a well-structured, concise, evidence-led nomination makes a significant difference. The following guidance will help applicants craft a compelling entry:

Lead with recent work

Focus on work executed between January 2024 and March 2026. Provide a crisp overview of what makes this campaign or technical initiative noteworthy. Avoid long organisational history — the jury is scoring the work, not the legacy.

Focus on one initiative

Each entry must centre on a single digital campaign or a single technical deployment. Clearly isolate what was done, why it mattered, and what distinguishes it from other work in your organisation.

Be specific and detailed

Describe what is genuinely new or interesting. What creative idea or technical execution sets it apart? What customer insight, technology use, or strategy unlocked results? Precise detail is more effective than broad marketing statements.

Demonstrate measurable impact

Use clear metrics wherever possible — uplift percentages, engagement rates, conversion improvements, revenue impact, customer satisfaction, churn reduction, cost efficiency, etc. The jury will look for numbers that show real outcomes, not only activity.

Connect execution to outcome

Show how your strategy, creative idea, or technology deployment led directly to the results. Strong entries clearly link problems → approach → execution → impact.

Highlight strategic or technical innovation

For digital campaigns, illustrate creative or strategic originality.
For technical excellence, highlight how martech, automation, data, or AI were applied in a meaningful and effective manner.

Frame the broader relevance

Explain how the work contributed to brand growth, customer experience improvements, operational efficiencies, or cultural impact. Briefly place your initiative in the larger marketing/tech context.

Only submit completed work

Concepts, prototypes, or partially executed initiatives are not eligible. Ensure your submission reflects completed work with measurable performance.

Keep copy concise and evidence-based

The strongest nominations are focused: they present the problem, the approach, the tools used, and the results without unnecessary elaboration. Prioritise clarity over jargon.

What Happens After I Apply?

All submissions are reviewed for eligibility and completeness by the Marquee Awards team. Eligible entries proceed to jury evaluation. The eight-member jury independently scores all entries, followed by a virtual deliberation meeting to finalise the winners. Category placement is for guidance only; organisers may reassign an entry if it is more suitable elsewhere.

Shortlisted nominees will be notified in early April 2026.
Winners will be announced at the Marquee Awards Gala on 23 April 2026 in Dubai.

Rules 

ELIGIBILITY

The Marquee Awards 2026 (the “Competition”) is open to brands, agencies, and organisations operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Eligible countries include: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkey.
Entries must represent work executed between January 2025 and December 2025. Either the entrant must be headquartered in the region, or a significant part of the campaign or technical implementation must have been executed within the region.

Employees or agents of Martechvibe, its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and associated promotional agencies, as well as members of their immediate families and households, are not eligible to participate.

Entrants must provide a valid email address to submit.

The Competition is subject to all applicable local laws and regulations and is not open in jurisdictions where such programmes are prohibited.

UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL

Entries must not contain:

• Pornographic, hateful, defamatory, or discriminatory content
•  Fabricated or misleading information
• Illegal or plagiarised material

Entries that violate these conditions are ineligible.

OFFICIAL RULES

Submitting an entry to the Marquee Awards constitutes full and unconditional agreement by the applicant (“Company”) to these Official Rules.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

By submitting the nomination form, the Company represents that the person identified as the Primary Contact is authorised to submit the entry and that all information provided is accurate.

By entering, the Company grants Martechvibe the right to exhibit, publish, and promote submitted information in connection with the Competition across any media, with due credit to the entrant. Only shortlisted and winning entries may be referenced for editorial or promotional purposes.

All submitted information is subject to Martechvibe’s privacy policy and may be shared with authorised partners for administrative or evaluation purposes.

DISQUALIFICATION

Entries may be disqualified without notice for reasons including, but not limited to:

Ineligibility
• Fabricated or unverifiable data
• Misrepresentation
• Violation of submission requirements
• Plagiarism
• Offensive or prohibited content

Disqualified entries will not be refunded.

REVIEW OF ENTRIES

A confirmation email will be issued once the submission form and entry fee have been received.

Timely submission of a complete entry and full payment ensures that the entry will be reviewed. Martechvibe makes no warranties regarding the review or outcome of any entry, and all implied warranties are disclaimed.

If an entry receives an award, Martechvibe retains sole discretion over how nominations and winners are announced. Some awards may be presented on stage, others solely online.

ENTRY FEES

Super Early Bird Fee: USD 499 (until 1 January 2026)
Early Bird Fee: USD 799 (Until February 10 2026
Standard Fee: USD 999 (from February 11 2026)

All fees are non-refundable and exclusive of taxes. In rare cases, a credit may be issued toward a future programme if requested before the final deadline.

DETAILED ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

Entrants must complete the official online nomination form before 23:59 GST on 31 March 2026. An entry is considered complete once the nomination form is submitted and payment has been successfully processed.

The organiser reserves the right to recategorise entries or introduce new categories where applicable.

Submissions must be completed exclusively through the online form. Entries submitted via email, post, or any other method will not be accepted.

No supporting decks or image/video uploads are required.

CONTACT

For questions or changes to the Primary Contact email, please contact the Marquee Awards Team at: marketing@marquee-awards.com

The organiser is not responsible for technical issues, incomplete uploads, email delivery failures, or late submissions. Entries missing required fields or received after the deadline will be disqualified.

Martechvibe reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Competition due to technical issues, security breaches, or other unforeseen circumstances.

In case of disputes regarding entry ownership, the entry will be attributed to the individual associated with the registered email address.

JUDGING / SELECTION OF WINNERS

All eligible entries will be judged by an independent jury of senior marketing, digital, and customer experience leaders.
Judging is based strictly on the published criteria for each bucket:

Industry Campaigns
• Creativity / Cultural Resonance
• Technology & Execution
• Strategy & Measurable Impact

Technical Excellence
• Implementation & Innovation
• Measurable Impact
• Scalability & Governance
• Clarity of Evidence

The jury’s decisions are final.

Winners will be announced at the Marquee Awards Gala on 23 April 2026 (Dubai) and published on Martechvibe channels.

GENERAL TERMS

Neither Martechvibe nor its affiliates will be responsible for:

• Entries containing inaccuracies
• Lost, late, incomplete, or corrupted submissions
• Technical failures of any kind
• Damage or loss resulting from participation in the Competition

Martechvibe reserves the right to disqualify any entrant attempting to tamper with the submission process or violate the rules.
Entry materials that appear altered or manipulated will be deemed void.

RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

By participating, entrants agree that any disputes arising out of the Competition will be addressed through good-faith discussion, with or without mediation. Martechvibe retains final authority on all matters related to judging and award recognition.

These Rules supersede any previous guidance and may be updated by Martechvibe at any time by posting revised rules on the website.

Have any questions or concerns?

Email the Marquee Awards Team at: marketing@marquee-awards.com

Click the following link to apply to the 2026 Marquee Awards

How Do I Pay Now and Edit Later?

Final deadline to submit your nomination:
31 March 2026 at 23:59 GST

Final deadline to edit your nomination:
31 March 2026 at 23:59 GST

You may begin your nomination, pay the entry fee, and continue editing until the final deadline. No edits will be allowed after the deadline.

To begin and edit later:

1. Log in to the nomination portal and enter placeholder text (e.g., “XX”) in required fields.
2. Proceed to the payment page.
3. Do not click “finalise submission.”
4. Once payment is completed, you may return anytime to update or refine your nomination until the deadline.

To edit a paid nomination:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Go to the “Completed Entries” section of your dashboard.
3. Select Edit next to the entry you wish to revise.
4. Make your updates and click Save.
   You may return to your entry as many times as needed before 31 March 2026 at 23:59 GST.

Refund Policy

All nomination fees are non-refundable.
If you need to cancel your submission before the final deadline, you may request that your fee be credited toward a future Martechvibe awards programme. Refunds are not available under any circumstances.

For cancellation or credit requests, email: marketing@marquee-awards.com

Why Should My Company Apply?

Winners of the Marquee Awards receive sector-wide visibility, industry recognition, and long-term credibility across the marketing and advertising technology landscape.

Brand Visibility – All shortlisted and winning entries will be showcased across Martechvibe’s platforms, newsletters, and social channels, reaching marketing leaders across the region.

Industry Recognition – Being recognised by a distinguished jury of CMOs, CX leaders, and digital transformation specialists strengthens market reputation and validates your organisation’s marketing and technology excellence.

Credibility – Winning a Marquee Award signals high performance, innovation, and impactful use of marketing and advertising technology.

Talent Attraction – Recognition strengthens employer branding, helping organisations attract and retain top marketing, data, CX, and digital talent.

Competitive Edge – Validation from an independent jury enhances stakeholder confidence, supports pitch narratives, and elevates brand positioning in competitive markets.