Nominations revealed for The Drum Awards for Commerce Media 2026

From family names equivalent to Adidas, Mattel, Nestlé, Lenovo, Hanes, Colgate-Palmolive, Hershey, Diageo, Chobani and Boots, to influential platforms and networks together with Instacart, Roku, Roundel, Sam’s Membership MAP, Finest Purchase Advertisements and Chewy Advertisements, the nominations seize a class on the middle of how manufacturers now construct demand and drive measurable progress.

Winners are set to be honored at a ceremony in Miami on April 27, 2026.

• Discover the total record of nominations here.

In Finest In-Retailer Digital Retail Media Activation, the nominated work ranges from Dick’s Media for Adidas to Grocery TV and Publicis Media for Haleon – a sign that bodily retail environments are more and more being reimagined as dynamic media channels.

In Finest Use of CTV/On-line Video, manufacturers together with Hanes, Tigi, Hershey and Mattel present how video is turning into a measurable storefront quite than merely a branding play.

The shortlist additionally underlines the significance of know-how and intelligence within the class’s subsequent part. Adtech Innovation nominees embody work for Macy’s, Mattel and Nestlé, alongside AI-led entries from Skai and SWYM.ai. Elsewhere, classes equivalent to Finest Use of Analytics, Finest Proof of Incrementality and Finest Use of a Knowledge Clear Room exhibit how measurement sophistication is now central to successful on this house.

Within the Finest Model-Constructing class, nominees together with Diageo, Hanes, Dr Barbara Sturm, TIGI and Cheez-It reinforce the concept that commerce media is now not only a lower-funnel play.

Within the Commerce Media Partnership of the Yr class, shortlisted collaborations involving Walgreens Promoting Group, Circana, SanMar, Church & Dwight and Nestlé showcase the worth of related experience throughout technique, media, analytics and measurement.

And in Most Efficient Commerce Media Marketing campaign (General), work for Simmons Pet Meals, Diageo, Rhone, SC Johnson and Cheez-It’s going to compete for one of many program’s most coveted honors.

Commerce Media Community of the Yr

One of many standout honors this yr is Commerce Media Community of the Yr, a class that brings collectively a number of the sector’s most intently watched operators.

Finest Purchase Advertisements earns its nomination as one of the crucial distinguished retailer media performs available in the market, representing the continued growth of electronics retail into a complicated promoting ecosystem.

Chewy Advertisements is shortlisted for its rising position in translating a extremely engaged pet-owner viewers right into a beneficial commerce media proposition. 

Ace {Hardware}’s RedVest Media is nominated for bringing a particular mannequin to commerce media, rooted within the energy of native retail, store-level affect and unbiased distribution.

Sam’s Membership Member Entry Platform (MAP) completes the shortlist, acknowledged for its capacity to show membership information and retail intelligence into measurable media worth at scale.

Commerce Media Chief of the Yr

This yr’s Commerce Media Chief of the Yr nominees characterize a number of the most influential figures driving the following chapter of the trade.

Ali Miller, common supervisor of promoting at Instacart, is acknowledged for her position in serving to form one of the crucial essential commerce media companies within the North American market, the place retail media, grocery and platform innovation more and more intersect.

Christa Klausner, EVP, commerce media, Digitas, is nominated for her management in agency-side commerce technique as manufacturers search for stronger integration between media, shopper perception and enterprise outcomes.

Lee LeFeuvre, chief shopper officer, SMG, makes the shortlist as a frontrunner serving to outline how commerce capabilities are delivered for shoppers in an more and more performance-led surroundings.

Lisa Valentino, president of Finest Purchase Advertisements, is acknowledged for steering one of many trade’s most seen retailer media networks, serving to place it as a severe drive within the commerce media panorama.

Nili Klenoff, govt vice-president of commerce media and innovation, Mastercard Commerce Media, rounds out the class, reflecting the rising position of economic and transaction-based intelligence in shaping commerce media’s future.

With nominations now introduced, consideration turns to the stay ceremony, the place the trade’s finest work – and the groups behind it – might be celebrated on April 27, 2026. 

You’ll find the total record of nominations and be taught extra concerning the ceremony here.

This yr’s Commerce Media Awards are sponsored by Rokt, alongside gold associate Finest Purchase Advertisements and silver companions Chicory, Goodway Group, Mirakl Advertisements, SMG, and The Commerce Deskare.