The American Promoting Federation (AAF) has unveiled its 2026 Promoting Corridor of Fame class as a part of this system’s seventy fifth anniversary, together with six legendary trade leaders, one company honoree, and two President’s Award recipients.

The Promoting Corridor of Fame acknowledges people and organizations whose careers have had a long-lasting affect on promoting, enterprise, and tradition. The announcement was made Tuesday along with the ringing of the New York Inventory Change closing bell.

“Our complete trade appears to the AAF Promoting Corridor of Fame as the last word customary of management, character and lasting affect,” Ross Martin, chair of the AAF Promoting Corridor of Fame and president of Identified, instructed ADWEEK. “The seventy fifth anniversary class is particular, not only for what they’ve every achieved, however for who they’re, how they did it, and all these they’ve impressed alongside the best way.”

The 2026 Promoting Corridor of Fame Inductees

This yr’s Corridor of Fame class spans inventive management, model stewardship, advertising innovation, and long-term cultural affect.

They embody:

  • Gordon Bowen, founder, mcgarrybowen; inventive chairman, Dentsu Artistic
  • Esi Eggleston Bracey, world chief progress and advertising officer, Unilever
  • Susan Fowler Credle, world inventive advisor, Interpublic Group; former chair and world chief inventive officer, FCB
  • David Droga, vice chair, Accenture; founder, Droga5
  • Tim Ellis, chief advertising officer, NFL
  • Jim Stengel, president and CEO, The Jim Stengel Firm; former world advertising officer, Procter & Gamble

“The Promoting Corridor of Fame honors trade legends for his or her globally acknowledged achievements, groundbreaking improvements, and distinctive philanthropic contributions to each the promoting trade and their communities,” mentioned Steve Pacheco, president and CEO of the American Promoting Federation. “On the event of the seventy fifth Anniversary of the AAF Promoting Corridor of Fame, I can’t consider a extra distinguished Class of Honorees.”

Inductees will probably be formally celebrated on the Promoting Corridor of Fame Induction Gala on April 23, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Road in New York Metropolis.

Company Honoree: American Categorical

Along with the person honorees, American Categorical was named the 2026 company Corridor of Fame inductee, recognizing the model’s long-standing affect on advertising, model storytelling, and purpose-driven enterprise.

Based greater than 175 years in the past, American Categorical has constructed a legacy as one of many world’s most recognizable manufacturers, with advertising that has formed tradition throughout generations. The corporate has additionally been well known for its help of small companies, together with its creation of Small Enterprise Saturday.

“American Categorical has constructed a legacy as one of the vital recognizable and revered manufacturers on the earth,” Pacheco mentioned. “Its advertising has formed tradition. The corporate can be a frontrunner in purpose-driven work, and it has proven a deep dedication to supporting small companies and serving to native retailers.”