Written by Izzy Branson-Hammond, Marketing Manager, Festival of Media
Latin American campaigns are making their presence felt on the global stage with 26 shortlisted entries from across the region recognised in this year’s M&M Global Awards, representing 9% of all shortlisted entries. This highlights the growing strength and ambition of Latin American media and marketing talent.
It’s not just in the M&M Global Awards as for the past two years Latin American campaigns competing in the Festival of Media Global Awards have secured 32 shortlists and 18 trophies, including two coveted Grand Prix accolades. With an impressive 62% conversion rate from shortlist to trophy the region has demonstrated its ability to compete with the best work on the planet.
This continued success raises an interesting question. Will the campaigns currently being highlighted across the two global programmes go on to dominate the Festival of Media Latin America Awards?
With the region’s strongest work already attracting international recognition all eyes now turn to the Latin American market to see which agencies, brands and campaigns emerge as the leaders of the region.
The Festival of Media Latin America Awards has seen a fascinating shift in its top agency honours in recent years, with Agency of the Year and Agency Network of the Year recognising excellence at both an individual agency and wider network level.
For Agency of the Year, a different network has taken the title every year since 2022. EssenceMediacom Mexico secured the accolade in 2022, followed by GUT Brazil in 2023, Initiative Brazil in 2024 and Centralia Media & Content in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Agency Network of the Year title has seen its own changing line-up of winners, with PHD and Initiative among the agencies that have dominated the accolade in recent years. Initiative enjoyed a hat-trick of wins from 2022 to 2024, before PHD rose above the competition in 2025 to claim the title.
So who will take the top agency honours this year? Will PHD defend its Agency of the Year title, will Initiative reclaim the crown, or will a new agency network emerge as the 2026 to claim the title?
And finally there is the Campaign of the Year title, the ultimate accolade recognising the campaign that has made the biggest impact across the region. The title has also seen an intriguing shift in regional dominance in recent years.
Between 2022 and 2024, Costa Rica took the accolade for three consecutive years. PHD Costa Rica secured the title in both 2022 and 2024, while Publicis MullenLowe Costa Rica claimed the win in 2023. But 2025 saw a new market break through.
OMD Peru took home Campaign of the Year for Estibadores, demonstrating the breadth of talent across Latin America and proving that the region’s most celebrated work can come from anywhere.
As the 2026 awards approach the question is whether Costa Rica can reclaim its position, or if Peru will continue its momentum, or will it be another Latin American region.
Adding another layer to the awards in 2026 the Festival of Media Latin America Awards has introduced a new accolade, Advertiser of the Year. It has been created to celebrate the brands/advertisers whose commitment to media excellence is setting benchmarks regionally.
While entries for the Festival of Media Latin America Awards have officially closed there is still an opportunity for agencies and brands who have missed the deadline. Entrants can contact the Festival of Media team to request an extension at fomawards@festivalofmedia.com.
With Latin American work continuing to perform strongly on the international stage, this year’s awards promise to be a particularly compelling showcase of the region’s creativity, innovation and media excellence.
Now, there is only one question left to answer:
Who will take home the top titles at this year’s Festival of Media Latin America Awards and cement their place among the region’s leading agencies, brands and campaigns?
