Adobe, Nasdaq and Samsung are 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards finalists
The 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards finalists reflect a shift toward more immersive, audience-driven storytelling, where participation is as important as reach. Brands, publishers and agencies are embracing entertainment-first formats and designing content that extends beyond single moments, building sustained engagement across platforms. Premium video and original programming are increasingly amplified through omnichannel strategies that maximize visibility and impact. In turn, branded content is evolving into a core business driver, fueling partnerships, strengthening credibility and delivering measurable results well beyond traditional marketing objectives.
Adobe is among the nominees in the Best Brand Film or Series category. The company reimagined event marketing for its annual Adobe MAX conference with “The Great Big Giant MAX Creator Challenge,” a competition-style content series designed to extend product storytelling beyond the event. Featuring nine creators competing across four long-form episodes and multiple short-form cutdowns, the campaign blended studio-shot challenges with live conference footage and panel commentary to showcase key product innovations. The format tapped into the popularity of creator-led entertainment while delivering product education in an engaging way. It generated 36.3 million interactions and achieved a 6% engagement rate, doubling Adobe’s social benchmark and demonstrating strong audience resonance.
Finalists in the Best Original Programming category include Nasdaq, which expanded its thought leadership strategy with The Winning Formula, a flagship interview series exploring the intersection of business and sports. Hosted from its MarketSite studio and featuring high-profile guests including athletes and executives, the series examines leadership, innovation and the business of sports. Backed by sponsorship from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, episodes are distributed across Nasdaq.com and social platforms to extend reach and engagement. By pairing credible voices with culturally relevant topics such as women’s sports and athlete entrepreneurship, the series strengthens Nasdaq’s visibility among sports-minded business audiences while reinforcing its authority beyond financial markets.
Samsung earned a finalist spot in the Best Use of Live Video category. Samsung TV Plus introduced real-time interactivity to connected TV with FanVote, a feature launched during a live Jonas Brothers concert stream. Embedded directly into the broadcast, the tool allowed viewers to use their remote controls to vote on which song would be performed next, with results reflected on stage moments later. The low-friction format turned passive viewing into active participation, achieving a 13% engagement rate. By integrating interactivity into a FAST environment without additional apps or logins, Samsung demonstrated how live streaming can evolve into a two-way experience, setting a precedent for future entertainment and sports programming.
See the complete list of finalists below, and stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s winners.
Best Ad
Teads x Nespresso with The Weeknd
Google Pixel & The White Lotus
Bojangles x Bussin’ With The Boys
Fanatics Topps – Alonso
Armchair Quarterback: Bud Light
Best Ad Tech Innovation
Transmit
EMG’s Maven
Anoki
Jameson & Atmosphere TV: Ads Triggered by Sports Moments
Nexxen Discovery
Samsung TV Plus & Jonas Brothers – Interactive FAST Concert
Best Brand Film or Series
“Second Winds” by AbbVie
The Great Big Giant MAX Creator Challenge – Adobe
Transmission – Who is… Watson? The Day AI Went Prime Time
Avia – Wonderland Wishes Ad Campaign
Ten100 / Xbox – War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
YouTube Brand Marketing – YouTube’s Watch History Series
Best CTV Ad Tech Platform
Transmit
EMG’s Maven
PrismRiot
Bringing Disney Magic Home with LG Ad Solutions
Samsung Ads
Tatari
Best Digital Video Platform
Primis
YouTube
Best Distribution Strategy
The Volume
VG
Best FAST Channel
CBS Sports Golazo Network
CBS Sports HQ
Xumo Free Game Show TV: Game Shows for the FAST Era
Best Immersive Video Experience – NEW
The Weather Channel: Hurricane Milton SurgeFX
Wella Clairol ColorStrong: Shoppable AR Drives Awareness
Best Interactive Video Experience
Canela Media’s Club Canela
ViewLift Fan Engagement Suite
Samsung Ads x Havas x Domino’s: GameBreaks CTV quiz
Adobe Firefly – The Unfinished Film
ESPN Direct to Consumer Fan Experience on Roku
Samsung TV Plus & Jonas Brothers – Interactive FAST Concert
Best Measurement Tool
Looper Insights’ Sports Visibility Tracker
EMG’s Maven
Affinity Solutions & iSpot
Disney Advertising’s Disney Compass
How Spectrum Reach Show-Level Transparency Drives Results
Best Multi-Platform Video Campaign – NEW
SonderMind – Care, Here and Now Campaign
Polestar drives brand lift with LG Ad Solutions
Business Insider and The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
C4 Energy Launches “We Are All Athletes” Campaign
United x Sightly
YouTube
Best Original Programming
Ten100 / Xbox – War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Omaha Productions
Best Video Podcast: Joe and Jada
Nasdaq – The Winning Formula with Joel Kolani and Poppy Shen
Park Sessions
Best Shoppable Content Strategy
LTK – Creator-Led Social App for Trusted Recommendations
Best Social Video Campaign
ESPN’s Golden Ticket Giveaway
QYOU x Paramount Pictures: Mission Impossible 8
Kick of Destiny: FanDuel
Eli Signing Pizza, Hidden Valley Ranch, Pizza Hut
YouTube Rickrolls The Internet to Celebrate 20th Birthday
Instacart & Linqia Go Back to 1999 with Creators
Best Streaming Service
ViewLift Streaming and Digital Solutions
ESPN – The Launch of ESPN DTC
Vimeo Streaming
DIRECTV Redefines TV Bundling W/ Industry-First Genre Packs
Local Now Free Streaming Service
My Drama by HOLYWATER
Best TV/Streaming Ad Sales Program – NEW
Redefining “meaningful” engagement with LGBTQ streamers
Snappy — The Gifting Intervention
EMG
NBCUniversal Advertising & Partnerships
Best UGC Integration Strategy
YouTube Celebrates Musical Theater Creators
Best Use of AI
ESPN – The Launch of ESPN DTC
Alison.ai Creative Intelligence for Video
Prime Video 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards Submission
Universal Ads – Transforming TV Creative with AI
Best Use of Data-Driven Personalization
Polestar drives brand lift with LG Ad Solutions
ESPN – The Launch of ESPN DTC
Atmosphere TV & HOKA – Live API Marathon Tracker Ads
Best Use of Live Video
Best Use of Live Video: Night of Champions
Nightcap
Best Use of Live Video: 520 AM
Samsung TV Plus & Jonas Brothers – Interactive FAST Concert
Best Use of YouTube
Club Shay Shay
Doosan Bobcat North America Gets Record VTR with Context
Taste of Home: Growing YouTube Through Creators & Shorts
Billy Blip Boss Builds a Global Kids Creator Community
Driving Growth for Dr. Squatch
YouTube Rickrolls The Internet to Celebrate 20th Birthday
Best Video Podcast
The Mina Kimes Show
The Next Marketing with HJ By Doceree
Club Shay Shay
The Anime Effect: A Crunchyroll Podcast
Joe and Jada
Most Innovative Advertising Partner
How Keynes Digital Redefined AI-Powered CTV Planning
How Spectrum Reach Simplified Media Planning With AI
Juxtapose Studio: Luke Anderson
Omaha Productions
Most Innovative Studio
Crayola Create by TheSoul Group
QYOU Studios
Most Innovative Video Producer
Joe and Jada Production Team
Caracol Televisión and LUMO Media Lab: “Habitantes del Futuro, Innovating Kids Content
Most Innovative Video Sales Executive
Amy Leifer, Chief Advertising Sales Officer, DIRECTV
Dane Aagaard, Chief Revenue Officerserves, The Volume
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