Celebrating

Diversity And Inclusion

in UK Media & Advertising

Welcome back to the MEFA Diversity and Inclusion Awards, in partnership with Campaign, now celebrating their fourth year since that brilliant inaugural ceremony in 2023. Open to everyone across the UK media and advertising industry, the awards return for 2026 following three successful editions in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and we'd love for you to be part of it.

At MEFA, we exist to shine a light on the people and organisations making our industry better: the advertisers, media organisations and individuals who are genuinely, wholeheartedly championing diversity and inclusion. Every entry and nomination helps us build a media and advertising industry that truly embraces and represents all communities, and we can't wait to see who you put forward this year.

This year, there are nine categories to choose from, celebrating everything from bold, standout creative campaigns to the quiet, tireless work that often goes unnoticed. Six of these are free to enter, so whatever your budget, there's a place for you to take part.

We're delighted that this year's Judging Panel will be chaired by Katrina Bozicevich, CEO at MG OMD, and Dino Myers-Lamptey, Founder of The Barber Shop. Scroll down to meet the rest of our brilliant line-up of 2026 judges.

Why Enter?

The awards are open to everyone in the industry, whatever the size of your organisation.
Two new categories, Mentor of the Year and Mentee of the Year, are open exclusively to MEFA members and free to enter, joining a wider mix of free and paid-entry categories available this year.
Want to celebrate standout creative work? Our categories are designed to recognise exactly that, alongside the many other ways your organisation champions diversity and inclusion.

Entries are now open.
Deadline is Friday 2 October 2026, 23.59pm
For queries regarding submissions, email awards@mediaforall.org.uk

AWARD CATEGORIES

All In Champion

The 'All in Champion' award category is in partnership with the Advertising Association.

This special award category is specifically for companies who have made substantial progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion (D, E & I) and have embedded it in their ethos and company culture.

To qualify for this award, you must be an Advertising Association -

All in Champion

Change-Maker

This prestigious award is open to any individual who is making a significant impact on the media and advertising industry by actively committing themselves to achieving, creating, and inspiring positive change.

The Change-Maker award celebrates individuals within the industry who not only commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their policies, but truly live and breathe it. These exceptional individuals are championing D, E & I through the lens of various dimensions such as race, gender, social mobility, age, sexuality, and neurodiversity.

Creative Excellence

This award celebrates an exceptional campaign (within the last 18 months) with outstanding creative work that champions diversity and communicates powerful messages of inclusion and authenticity. The campaign demonstrates a commitment to authentic portrayal and representation of underrepresented groups.

The campaign authentically represents diverse groups and incorporate different points of view, encouraging authentic representation through advertising.

DEI Champion

This award recognises the efforts on an individual working in a formal DEI role. Their work has led to measurable improvements, such as increased representation, improved inclusivity, and reduced barriers to progression for underrepresented groups. Their ability to think outside the box and tackle DEI challenges in fresh and effective ways sets them apart as a leader in their field.

Planning and Buying

This award category recognises a campaign (within the last 18 months) that showcases exceptional audience understanding and expertise in media planning and buying; ensuring representation and reaching diverse audiences that are often overlooked or underrepresented. This award is for businesses that have gone above and beyond to reshape the media landscape and improve the performance of advertisements by truly understanding and connecting with diverse audiences.

Hammer

This distinguished award aims to recognise and celebrate a senior leader from a diverse background who has shattered the glass ceiling and made remarkable strides in incorporating

D, E & I across their business.

We are seeking a leader who demonstrates a deep belief in the power of diversity and its transformative impact on businesses.

MEFA Mentee of the Year

NOMINATED BY MENTOR

To be eligible, the mentee must be taking part in the 2026 MEFA Mentoring Programme, which runs through to October, and be on track to complete it, having attended every session with their mentor to date. Beyond attendance, we're looking for a mentee who has taken genuine ownership and initiative in the relationship, helping to organise sessions and drive the agenda rather than simply showing up. Strong, open communication has been essential, as has a willingness to be proactive and fully engaged throughout.

MEFA Mentor of the Year

NOMINATED BY MENTEE

To be eligible, the mentor must be taking part in the 2026 MEFA Mentoring Programme, which runs through to October, and be on track to complete it, having attended every session with their mentee to date. We're looking for a mentor who has been proactive and fully engaged throughout, with great communication that has helped build trust and momentum in the relationship. Crucially, mentoring works both ways, so we also want to hear what your mentor has learned from you, and how the relationship has shaped their own perspective.

Unsung Hero

This award recognises those extraordinary individuals who may have gone under the radar but have made a significant positive impact on those around them. We are seeking nominations for individuals who have dedicated a significant part of their career to volunteering within their organisation(s), working tirelessly to foster diversity and inclusion.

2026 JUDGES