CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

2026 WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

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The AdExchanger Awards celebrate the organizations, technologies and teams driving measurable impact across today’s advertising ecosystem.

On September 28, more than 250 senior leaders from across advertising, media and ad tech gathered in New York City for the 2026 AdExchanger Awards Gala during Programmatic I/O New York, celebrating the industry’s most impactful work at the New York Marriott Marquis.

This year’s winners represent the best of the industry, featuring standout organizations including People Inc., PubMatic, DoorDash, Magnite, Index Exchange and many more. From breakthrough technologies and data-driven campaigns to visionary leadership and innovative media strategies, the 2026 class sets the standard for performance, innovation and growth across the advertising ecosystem.

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2026 WINNERS

Agency, Consulting, & Publisher

Best Use Of AI or Technology By an Agency

Winner
Butler/Till and PubMatic's First Fully Autonomous Campaign PubMaticButler/Till and PubMatic's First Fully Autonomous Campaign
Honorable Mentions
  • InterMedia AdvertisingClosing the Loop: How CarShield, InterMedia, and NBC, Paramount & Tubi Innovated Direct Buying For Performance CTV
  • The ShipyardBehavioral AI: Predictive Targeting Gets an Encore After Boosting Revenue 20.3%
  • Stream CompaniesRetail Ready

Best Use Of Data By An Agency

Winner
Closing the Loop: How CarShield, InterMedia, and NBC, Paramount & Tubi Innovated Direct Buying For Performance CTV InterMedia AdvertisingClosing the Loop: How CarShield, InterMedia, and NBC, Paramount & Tubi Innovated Direct Buying For Performance CTV
Honorable Mentions
  • Butler/TillButler/Till’s Bayesian MMX + Halo Analysis: Doubling a Launch Pharma Brand’s Media at 17.7x Return
  • Adelaide MetricsHow Publicis Integrated Media Quality Data at the Heart of Haleon’s Global Media Growth Model
  • Innocean, Wienerschnitzel and BasisInnocean x Wienerschnitzel x Basis – the Top Dogs in QSR
  • Rise, a Quad AgencyRedefining Measurement for the Invisible Search Era: Rise’s AI Referral Agent Reporting System

Best Use Of Technology By A Publisher or Media Seller

Winner
D/Cipher Off-Property Intent Targeting Utilizing People Inc. 1P Data People Inc.D/Cipher Off-Property Intent Targeting Utilizing People Inc. 1P Data
Honorable Mentions
  • FutureFuture Optic: First-Of-Its-Kind Solution Built for AI Discovery
  • Spectrum ReachAnoki's ContextIQ for Live News Delivers Increased Sales for InterMedia and CarShield

Excellence in Publisher Growth & Monetization

Winner
DeeperDive: How Taboola Turned AI's Biggest Threat to Publishers Into a Growth Platform TaboolaDeeperDive: How Taboola Turned AI's Biggest Threat to Publishers Into a Growth Platform
Honorable Mentions
  • PrimisPrimis Video Discovery: Turning Publisher Audiences Into Sustainable Revenue
  • RaptiveBuilding the Future of Publisher Growth, Monetization, and AI-Powered Discovery
  • Media TradecraftWith Custom Technology + High-Touch Service, Media Tradecraft Rewrote the Monetization Playbook

Maximizing Impact for the Open Web

Winner
Butler/Till, Geloso & SWYM: Maximizing Open-Web Value Through Intelligent Supply Decisioning SWYM.aiButler/Till, Geloso & SWYM: Maximizing Open-Web Value Through Intelligent Supply Decisioning

Campaigns

Best Data-Driven CTV Campaign

Winner
How Spectrum Reach Redefined Data-Driven CTV Performance Spectrum ReachHow Spectrum Reach Redefined Data-Driven CTV Performance
Honorable Mentions
  • Blis, part of T-Mobile Advertising Solutions + hunterblu mediaHow Carrier-Grade App Data Turned CTV Engagement Into Retail Sales Lift for Trace Minerals
  • Comcast AdvertisingComcast Advertising Proves TV and Streaming Drive Real Sales for Papa Murphy’s
  • Gracenote + Index ExchangeGo for Dos: How Gracenote and Index Exchange Helped Dos Equis and dentsu X Transform Programmatic CTV with Content Data
  • MadhiveMadhive’s Maverick AI-driven Campaign Delivers 4X Better Performance for a Department Store Chain

Best Programmatic Out-Of-Home Activation

Winner
How Volkswagen Conquered Rival EV Drivers with Precision DOOH PerionHow Volkswagen Conquered Rival EV Drivers with Precision DOOH
Honorable Mentions
  • Big HappyBig Happy x poppi x Sodexo: Driving Standout Performance With Splashy DOOH
  • Strategus, LLC.Strategus x Makeup By Mario: A Sephora-Focused DOOH Campaign That Sold Out Ethereal Eyes Makeup Palette Again
  • PerionVaseline Malaysia: Live UV Data Powers a Real-Time DOOH Alert System

Most Innovative Marketing Campaign

Winner
Rewriting the Rules of Premium CTV Buying The ShipyardRewriting the Rules of Premium CTV Buying
Honorable Mentions
  • TransUnionBring Clarity to Chaos: How TransUnion Turned Mindshare Into Market Share
  • GlanceGlance CTV's FRAME Ad Experience Drives Peak Brand Awareness and Recall for Fossil
  • Uber AdsHow Uber Put "Share a Coke" in Motion
  • Intent IQMaking the Unreachable Reachable: Horizon Media, Bob's Discount Furniture & Intent IQ Unlock Growth in ID-Less Media
  • InterMedia AdvertisingThe First Privacy-Safe Framework for Show-Level Buying and Optimization in Programmatic CTV
  • AdsWizzWeather-Triggered Audio: How AdsWizz and Winstar Turned Forecasts Into Concert Ticket Sales

Individual & Overall Awards

The People’s Programmatic Pick

Winner
Unplugged Collective Mike RichterUnplugged Collective

Best Account Support

Winner
Basis Feeds Noodles & Company with Delicious Data Basis and Noodles & CompanyBasis Feeds Noodles & Company with Delicious Data
Honorable Mention
  • Emily ZhaoWorkmagic, Data Science

Leadership In Advertising

Winner
DoorDash, Vice President of Ads Toby EspinosaDoorDash, Vice President of Ads
Honorable Mentions
  • Aman SareenRZR, CEO
  • Mark MarshallNBCUniversal, Chairman, Global Advertising and Partnerships
  • Melinda Han WilliamsDstillery, Chief Data Scientist
  • Scott EnsignButler/Till, CSO

Responsible Media

Winner
Shining a Light on the CTV Bidstream: Gracenote & Index Exchange’s Drive for True Media Transparency Gracenote + Index ExchangeShining a Light on the CTV Bidstream: Gracenote & Index Exchange’s Drive for True Media Transparency
Honorable Mention
  • DSPoliticalDeploy: Advancing Responsible Media Through Increased Transparency, Privacy, and Accountability in Political Advertising

Rising Star - Leadership Under 40

Winner
GumGum Laura HicksGumGum
Honorable Mentions
  • Brandon BurasUniquely Digital
  • Harry TongPubMatic
  • Kamya ElawadhiDoceree

Technology & Service Provider

AI Innovators - Agentic Platforms & Operating Systems

Winner
How Swivel Powered the First Agent-to-Agent Media Transaction and Built a Category for the Industry SwivelHow Swivel Powered the First Agent-to-Agent Media Transaction and Built a Category for the Industry
Honorable Mentions
  • AgentioThe AI-Native Infrastructure Powering the Future of Creator Advertising
  • DstilleryDstillery's DS-1 Agentic AI Advertising Platform
  • PubMaticPubMatic’s AgenticOS: The Autonomous Campaign Operating System
  • SkaiSkai's Agent-Native Operating System for Marketing

AI Innovators - Commerce Media

Winner
How Envive AI Unlocked $5.35 Million in Revenue for Beauty Brand Supergoop! Through Goal-Oriented Commerce AI Envive AIHow Envive AI Unlocked $5.35 Million in Revenue for Beauty Brand Supergoop! Through Goal-Oriented Commerce AI
Honorable Mentions
  • adMarketplace, Inc.adMarketplace's AI Discover: Delivering Intent-Based Monetization and Reshaping the AI Search Experience
  • CommerceIQCommerceIQ's Agentic Retail Platform
  • RoktThe Rokt Brain

AI Innovators - Creative and Content Optimization

Winner
Turning Intelligent Creative Into an Enterprise Performance Engine SmartlyTurning Intelligent Creative Into an Enterprise Performance Engine
Honorable Mentions
  • AnokiAnoki AI: The Company Teaching Machines to Understand Video & Streaming TV Like Humans
  • AdGreetzBizGreetz AI®: A SaaS (Or Managed) Creative Platform Orchestrating 50+ AI Models With Proprietary Creative Agents
  • BluefishThe Agentic Marketing Platform for the Fortune 500

AI Innovators - Data, Measurement, Performance

Winner
Georgia-Pacific & SWYM: Applying AI Intelligence & Decisioning Before the Bid SWYM.aiGeorgia-Pacific & SWYM: Applying AI Intelligence & Decisioning Before the Bid
Honorable Mentions
  • HightouchHightouch Ad Studio, Operationalizing AI for Modern Performance Marketing
  • PermutivePermutive’s AI-Powered DMP Delivers a 17% Boost in Active Attention for The Irish Times
  • UpwaveUpwave’s AI Agent, Bayes: Bringing Brand Measurement into the AI Era

AI Innovators - Video/Streaming/CTV

Winner
Magnite’s streamr.ai Makes Streaming Advertising More Accessible and Scalable MagniteMagnite’s streamr.ai Makes Streaming Advertising More Accessible and Scalable
Honorable Mentions
  • FreeWheelFreeWheel's AI Innovations Are Transforming How Premium Video is Bought and Sold
  • PerionPerion Outmax: The AI Agent That Manages Cross-Platform Video as One
  • RibeyeAI-powered revenue acceleration and ad operating system built for local media

Best Data Technology

Winner
How AI Can Transform Creative Data into a Scaled, Predictive Value Lever for Marketing VidmobHow AI Can Transform Creative Data into a Scaled, Predictive Value Lever for Marketing
Honorable Mentions
  • AmperityFrom Fragmented Data to AI-Powered Customer Intelligence
  • DeepIntentHelix AI from DeepIntent
  • PixabilityPixie by Pixability: The First Agentic AI Curation and Optimization Solution for YouTube

Best Demand-Side Technology

Winner
The DeepIntent DSP DeepIntentThe DeepIntent DSP
Honorable Mentions
  • fullthrottle.ai®fullthrottle.ai®: One platform to build audiences, activate omnichannel media, and measure results down to the transaction.
  • Intent IQIntent IQ’s IDeal 360: unlocking growth through amplified audience activation, attribution, & insights in ID-less media

Best Identity Technology

Winner
Adstra's Conexa: Composable Identity Resolution for the Modern Enterprise AdstraAdstra's Conexa: Composable Identity Resolution for the Modern Enterprise
Honorable Mentions
  • AcxiomAcxiom Real ID: The Trusted Identity Foundation
  • Intent IQIntent IQ’s Distributed Identity Technology & IIQ ID: bridging the gap between publishers & advertisers for ID-less audiences
  • DSPoliticalVoter-Optimized CTV: An Identity-First Approach to Audience Activation in a Signal-Loss Advertising Era

Best in Commerce Media

Winner
Driving Commerce Media Toward Profitable Customer Growth ShirofuneDriving Commerce Media Toward Profitable Customer Growth
Honorable Mentions
  • IncrementalIncremental: Replacing ROAS With Causal Decisioning at Scale
  • PacvuePacvue AI-Powered Commerce Media Operating System
  • Uber AdsUber Advertising x Alexa+: 12 Days of Sleigh

Best Industry Startup

Winner
Real-Time Signals. Agentic Action. Superior CTV Performance. PurePlay AIReal-Time Signals. Agentic Action. Superior CTV Performance.
Honorable Mentions
  • TaivThe Missing Layer of Sports Media
  • GenuinThe AI-Native Media Infrastructure Rebuilding How Publishers Own and Monetize Audiences

Best Measurement or Analytics Capability

Winner
Proof, Not Platform Metrics MeasuredProof, Not Platform Metrics
Honorable Mentions
  • PurpleLabPurpleLab Enables True Outcomes-Based Healthcare Advertising At Scale
  • MutinexReimagining Marketing Measurement: Mutinex and Hershey’s AI-Driven Analytics Transformation

Best Privacy Technology

Winner
SafeGuard Privacy: The Global Infrastructure for Privacy Compliance in Digital Advertising SafeGuard PrivacySafeGuard Privacy: The Global Infrastructure for Privacy Compliance in Digital Advertising
Honorable Mentions
  • InuvoIntentKey by Inuvo Replaces Consumer Identity with Concept Intelligence
  • YobiYobi Advertising Decisioning Model

Best Sell-Side Focused Technology

Winner
Index Cloud: Bringing Intelligence Inside the Exchange Index ExchangeIndex Cloud: Bringing Intelligence Inside the Exchange
Honorable Mentions
  • SWYM.aiGeorgia-Pacific & SWYM: Applying AI Intelligence & Decisioning Before the Bid
  • Optable x UnityHow Optable and Unity Unlocked Brand Demand for 256M Gamers Across North America
  • OpenXOpenXBuild: Maximizing Every Ad Dollar Through Custom Decisioning

Most Innovative Use of CTV Technology

Winner
The First Privacy-Safe Framework for Show-Level Buying and Optimization in Programmatic CTV InterMedia AdvertisingThe First Privacy-Safe Framework for Show-Level Buying and Optimization in Programmatic CTV
Honorable Mentions
  • MadhiveMadhive Redefines Local CTV Through Maverick AI Agents
  • Brand MetricsProving CTV works, from inside the streaming environment
  • RZRRZR Performance CTV: A Decade of Mobile Measurement Discipline, Applied to the Living Room

JUDGES

PRESENTED BY:

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Contact

Should you have any questions about the categories, rules, or gala for the AdExchanger Awards,

please contact Karis Kim: kkim@accessintel.com

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