BW Merit Awards 2026 returns with 59 categories & a power-packed jury

Now in its fourth edition, BW Merit Awards 2026 returns on 18 June in Mumbai, bringing together the industry's most influential marketers, brand leaders and communication professionals. The platform has established itself as a marquee celebration of marketing excellence, recognising the campaigns, brands and individuals shaping consumer engagement and business growth.

BW Merit honours work that goes beyond visibility to create real impact. By rewarding creativity, innovation, strategic thinking and measurable results, the awards spotlight ideas that challenge convention, set new benchmarks and redefine the future of marketing.

The Jury
To ensure a robust, transparent and credible evaluation process, BW Merit Awards 2026 is supported by an esteemed jury comprising some of the most accomplished marketing leaders and brand custodians in the country. The jury includes Shubhranshu Singh, Board Member, Effie Lions Foundation; Tarun Jha, Head Marketing, JSW Steel; Amit Tiwari, Global Head – Marketing Demand Centre, TCS; Siddartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer, Air India Express; Arjun Bhatia, Chief Marketing Officer, Matrimony.com; Rohit Talwar, Chief Marketing Officer, JSW Paints; Anil Gurnani, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, TTK Prestige; Sachin Chhabra, Former CMO, Adani Cements; Ajay Kakar, Head – Corporate Brand Building, Adani Group; Sai Narayan, Chief Marketing Officer, Policybazaar; Ipshita Chowdhary, Head Marketing, Motorola Mobility; Abhinav Iyer, SGM Marketing, Muthoot Finance; Pankaj Kapoor, AVP Marketing, Nilkamal; Udit Malhotra, Head Marketing, JSW MG Motor India; Pritika Shah, Head Marketing & CSR, HDFC Life; Gunjan Khetan, Marketing Director, Perfetti Van Melle India; Vidhi Attri, Head Marketing, Elan Group; Kavitha Ganesan, General Manager – Marketing, TVS Eurogrip; Pratip Francis, Head Brand Marketing, MRF Tyres; Pawan Jagnik, Head Marketing, Pladis Global; Jaikishin Chapproo, Head Media & Brand PR, ITC; Abhishek Misra, Country Head, Narayana Health; Nikita Malhotra, Head Digital, Woodland; Jessin Joy, VP Brand & Social, Vodafone Idea; and Jai Gupta, Marketing Head, Maggi Noodles, among others.

The Categories
BW Merit Awards 2026 will feature 59 categories spread across five broad segments: 'Best Use of Channels & Platforms', 'Best In Sectors', 'Best of Campaigns', 'Individual Awards' and 'Stages of Branding'.

The 'Best Use of Channels & Platforms' category will recognise excellence in Use of Content, Use of Media, Use of Digital/Social Media, Use of Influencers and Use of Events. The 'Best In Sectors' category will honour outstanding marketing initiatives across Automobile, BFSI, Consumer/Personal Tech, Consumer Durables, Consumer Electronics, Education, Energy, Enterprise Tech (B2B), FMCG – Personal Care, FMCG – Foods & Beverages, Healthcare, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Ecommerce, Sports & Leisure and Travel, Tourism & Leisure.

The 'Best of Campaigns' segment will celebrate Campaign in Not-For-Profit, Campaign in Corporate Social Responsibility, Surrogate Marketing Campaign, Regional Marketing Campaign, Small Budget Campaign, Tech Enabled, Persistent Long-Running Campaign, Best Integrated Digital Campaign, Best SEO Campaign, Best Organic Content Campaign, Best Digital Crisis Management, Best Digital New Product Launch, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Best Re-Release Marketing Campaign, Best Festive Marketing, Best B2B Marketing Campaign/Best Corporate Video (B2B), Best Brand Integration (YouTube), Best Brand Sponsorship Campaign (YouTube), Best Use of Video in Moment Marketing, Best Viral Influencer Campaign, Best Global-Led Influencer Campaign, Technology of the Year and Best Email Marketing of the Year.

The awards will also recognise individual excellence through Marketing Innovator of the Year (Under 35), Best Marketing Communication Professional (Under 35) and Best Digital Marketing Professional (Under 35). Further, the Stages of Branding segment will honour Category Creation, New Product Launch, Brand Extension, Brand Rejuvenation, Transformational Growth, Customer Relationship Marketing, Customer Experience, Post-Purchase Support and Customer Insights, Use of Consumer Insight, Use of Analytics/Big Data/AI, Long-Term Marketing Strategy (3 Years or More), Best Pivot Initiative, Brand Purpose and Best Use of Segmentation.

BW Merit Awards 2026 aims to celebrate path-breaking ideas, impactful campaigns and visionary leaders who continue to redefine marketing excellence. The awards will also serve as a platform for industry-wide learning, networking and collaboration, bringing together marketers, agencies, brands and innovators shaping the future of the profession.