“They’re not just the future of our industry. They are the people already guiding it.”
The best and the brightest.
CELEBRATING TOMORROW’S LEADERS, TODAY.
The Lisbon Ad Guiding Stars identifies and celebrates the talent driving the future of advertising. Presented by The Lisbon International Advertising Festival, it honours the industry's most exceptional emerging professionals whose creativity, ambition, innovation and measurable impact have distinguished them over the past year, while elevating the standards for all of us.
Open to all professionals with 1 to 7 years of experience in their current role, the awards recognise those who are not only delivering outstanding work today, but also shaping the future of the industry.
THE ECOSYSTEM
Unlike conventional rising stars awards, “The Guiding Stars” are designed as a career platform rather than a one-off recognition programme. The ecosystem consists of four interconnected stages:
1. Nomination
Industry leaders (patrons) identify and nominate the future Guiding Stars.
2. Recognition
Professionals are celebrated as Guiding Stars through content, networking and visibility.
3. Development
Guiding Stars participate in mentoring, masterclasses, publishing and community initiatives throughout the year.
4. Progression
Each year they may undergo a Guiding Impact Review, demonstrating how their influence continues to grow.
Angola - Argentina - Austria - Belgium - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Cape Verde - Chile - China - Colombia - Costa Rica - Cote d'Ivoire - Croatia - Czechia - Denmark - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - France- Germany- Hong-Kong - Hungary - India - Indonesia - Ireland - Israel - Italy
Japan - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Malaysia - Mexico - Netherlands - New Zealand - Pakistan - Peru - Poland - Portugal - Saudi Arabia - Singapore - South Africa - Spain - Sri Lanka - Sweden - Switzerland - Thailand - The Philippines - UK - United Arab Emirates - Uruguay - USA - Uzbekistan - Venezuela - Vietnam
7 REGIONS
50+ MARKETS
46 CATEGORIES
NATIONAL
GUIDING
STARS
Announced on
December 7
REGIONAL
GUIDING
STARS
Announced on
December 9
GLOBAL
GUIDING
STARS
Announced on
December 12
The Patrons of The Lisbon Ad Guiding Stars are among the most respected leaders in advertising, creativity and marketing in their respective countries. They are individuals whose careers, integrity and contribution to the industry have earned them the trust of their peers and the privilege of helping shape its future.
The way up. Every great creative community is built on more than outstanding talent. It is generously built on those who choose to recognise it, nurture it and champion it.
OUR
PATRONS
Invited by the
Festival,
each Patron serves as an independent ambassador for excellence within their national creative community. Their role is to identify, encourage and nominate the emerging professionals whose talent, achievements, character and potential deserve international recognition.
Patrons are not appointed to represent
a company,
an agency or a commercial interest. They are invited to represent something greater: the creative standards, values and aspirations of their country's industry.
Their contribution is selflessly voluntary,
a gesture of generosity towards the next generation and a commitment to ensuring that exceptional talent never goes unnoticed. By helping discover tomorrow's creative leaders, Patrons contribute to raising the ambitions, visibility and reputation of their national industry on the global stage.
Being invited to become a Patron is, in itself a recognition.
It acknowledges a career distinguished not only by professional excellence, but also by credibility, judgement and a willingness to give back to the profession.
The Lisbon Ad Guiding Stars proudly celebrates not only the stars of tomorrow, but also those whose leadership helps them shine.
THE GUIDING STARS
“They’re not just the future of our industry.
They are the people already guiding it.”
HOW TO ENTER
ELIGIBILITY & NOMINATION PROCESS
Nominators
A curated network of active senior industry leaders who act as independent Patrons and Industry Guides, identifying and championing exceptional emerging talent in their markets.
Origin
Nominations may come from agencies, brands, media companies, consultancies or start-ups.
Profile
Emerging leaders who are already guiding colleagues, brands or the industry. Experience guidelines are indicative, not rigid; leadership behaviour matters more than years served.
Entry
One application per professional, with the option
to enter up to three categories.
Candidates nominated by
a Patron benefit from an administrative participation fee. Applicants entering independently are subject
to a higher entry fee.
THE GUIDING STARS STARTING LIST
Once nominations close, the Lisbon Festivals publish the annual Guiding Stars Starting List of the nominees. Rather than announcing only the final recipients, the Starting List celebrates everyone recognised by the Grand Juries as exceptional emerging talent.
BENEFITS
•Immediate industry visibility for every nominee
•Employer recognition and celebration
•Increased engagement on LinkedIn and Instagram
•Greater anticipation ahead of the final evaluation
KEY DATES
National Patrons Announced
29/Sep - 7/Oct
Entries open
29/Oct
Registrations deadline
05/Nov
Submissions completed
16/Nov
Public Voting
17/Nov - 20/Nov
Results Announced
7/Dec (national) 9/Dec (regional) 11/Dec (global)
The best and the brightest.
Creativity & Craft
Honouring the visionary minds and meticulous makers who elevate creative concepts into iconic visual, written, and technical realities.
Art Director of the Year
Copywriter of the Year
Designer of the Year
Film Director of the Year
Producer of the Year
Digital Creator of the Year
Creative Technologist of the Year
Craft Excellence
Emerging Craft Award
Production, Post-Production & Special Effects
Celebrating the production and post-production talent who turn ambitious creative ideas into exceptional finished work.
Production Talent of the Year
Agency Producer of the Year
New Director of the Year
Production Innovation Award
Production Team of the Year
Strategy & Growth
Celebrating the strategic thinkers and brand architects who turn deep insight into commercial and cultural growth.
Strategist of the Year
Brand Builder of the Year
Marketer of the Year
Business Design Strategist
of the Year
Business Partnership, Account Management, Client Leadership
Recognising the people who build exceptional client relationships, drive growth and make complex work happen.
Client Partner of the Year
New Business Talent of the Year
Project and Delivery Talent of the Year
Media
Celebrating the people shaping how brands reach audiences, build communities and create value across channels and platforms.
Media Strategist of the Year
Media Planner of the Year
Performance Talent of the Year
Social and Community Talent of the Year
Creator Partnerships Talent of the Year
Commerce and Retail Media Talent of the Year
Audience and Measurement Talent of the Year
Branded Content and Partnerships Talent of the Year
Media Owner Talent of the Year
Media Innovation Award
Innovation & Impact
Innovation of the Year
Social Impact Award
Highlighting groundbreaking creative solutions that leverage technology or drive positive societal change.
People & Paths
Spotlighting exceptional individuals, teams, and emerging talents who are redefining leadership and career trajectories.
Revelation of the Year
Young Leader Award
Team of the Year
Independent / Entrepreneurial Star
Jury Honours & Special Awards (Regional&Global)
The festival’s top distinctions, selected only by our Jury (no submissions allowed - these entries will result from the consolidated list of national awards) to celebrate supreme achievement, promise, and character.
Guiding Star of the Year
Project of the Year
Future Icon Award
Above & Beyond Award
Creative Salon's Choice
Contacts
Festivals Support & Entries
maria@lisbonfestivals.com
Phone
+351 964 939 916
Rua Seara Nova, 5, Palácio Rosa
1250-002 Lisboa
Sponsorship & Partnerships
finance@lisbonfestivals.com
2026 The Lisbon Festivals Group. All Rights Reserved.
