Second jury meeting for the BrandEx Award 2026: 47 projects reach the final round

fThe BrandEx Award 2026 is entering its decisive phase. The jurors for the main categories of Event and Architecture met for their second session at the Dortmund Exhibition Center to thoroughly review the submitted entries and decide which ones would advance to the next stage of evaluation. 

There were 47 entries in the main category ARCHITECTURE. Of these, 26 projects impressed the jury and qualified for phase 3. In the main category EVENT, 58 submissions competed to advance to the next round – 21 projects reached the final evaluation phase. The jury’s decisions were based on open, well-argued, and collegial discussions in which different perspectives enriched the decision-making process. The final vote was the result of a combination of professional consideration, clear evaluation criteria, and a shared commitment to honoring outstanding communication architecture.

Both juries were very positive about the overall quality of the submissions, which was particularly high this year and impressed both in terms of design and content. Highlights included immersive experience spaces that not only showcased brands but also brought them to life through multimedia, and bold narrative approaches with exciting stories, impressive materiality, and a high degree of spatial dramaturgy.

Torsten Heinze, juror in the ARCHITECTURE category, commented: “The quality of the BrandEx 2026 submissions that made it to the third round was impressive and reflected the passion and professionalism in our industry.  We are now very excited about the final jury meeting, which will take place on January 14, 2026—just before the award ceremony—at boe in Dortmund.”

The jurors in the EVENT category were particularly pleased with the excellent implementation, details, and design quality of the works. Jury member Detlef Wintzen: “With great attention to detail and consistently high design quality, many of the entries are clearly at award level. At the same time, some projects still felt like they had the brakes on. We would like to encourage agencies and their clients to show even more creative courage in the future – in terms of content, design and, above all, strategy.”

Participation in the public live jury meeting at boe International in Dortmund is free of charge. Tickets for the subsequent award ceremony are available online at brand-ex.org/ticketbuchung.

EVENT: Best Brand Activation
The first car show inside a car, Elastique. GmbH, BMW Group, YouTube Festival Berlin 2024, insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH, Google Deutschland GmbH, The Reclaimed Collection – Perwoll, OVAL Germany GmbH & HeimatTBWA Düsseldorf GmbH, Perwoll | Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Adlerherzen, Andreana Clemenz, Papilio Entertainment, Adlerherzen UG

EVENT: Best Corporate Event
Passepartout: 25 Jahre – 1 Familie, Agentur Passepartout GmbH & Co. KG, Agentur Passepartout GmbH & Co. KG, YouTube Festival Berlin 2024, insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH, Google Deutschland GmbH, Audi Q3 Weltpremiere, Pure Perfection GmbH, AUDI AG

EVENT: Best Conference
Hauptstadtdialog der ZUKUNFT NAHVERKEHR, ZUKUNFT NAHVERKEHR, DB Regio AG, RETAIL MEDIA LIVE – Event. Experience. Exchange. – Immersive Markenerlebnisse am POS, Himalayeah! GmbH, OBI GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG, DWS Investment Conference – The Sound of Finance, insglück, Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH, DWS International GmbH

EVENT:  Best Formats Event
AMBITION | automechanika Frankfurt, brandmission GmbH, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, SAP d-com 2025, MCI Deutschland GmbH, SAP Deutschland SE & Co. KG, Campus meets Christmas 2024, Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen Bocholt Recklinghausen, Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen Bocholt Recklinghausen, Best Motivation/Best Employee Event, Alpiq Expedition Two, Live Lab AG, Alpiq Holding AG, Best Live PR, Kick it like Alex, Elastique. GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Sparda-Bank West – Bänker am Ball (Sponsoring Aktivierung), insglück Gesellschaft für, Markeninszenierung mbH, Sparda-Bank West eG, SchmerZH – Erinnerungen verduften nicht, Live Lab AG, KiöR Stadt Zürich

EVENT: Best Execution Event
35 Jahre Mauerfall in Berlin, Bärlin Team Eventdesign GmbH, Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH, DP WORLD – World Economic Forum Davos (Activations), George P. Johnson GmbH, DP World, Hannover Messe 2025 – Opening Ceremony, insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH, Deutsche Messe AG, Money20/20 Europe 2025, satis&fy AG, Informa PLC

ARCHITECTURE: Best Brand Architecture
EGGER @ Interzum 2025, D’art Design Gruppe GmbH, FRITZ EGGER GmbH & Co. OG, Schüco @ BAU 2025, D’art Design Gruppe GmbH, Schüco International KG, Celonis – Executive Briefing Center, München, Live Lab AG, Celonis SE, Miele IFA Berlin 2025, Miele & Cie. KG, Miele & Cie. KG, AEG at IFA2024, Studio Bachmannkern GmbH, AEG – Electrolux Hausgeräte GmbH

ARCHITECTURE: Best Execution Architecture
Wa! Germany – The German Pavilion at Expo 2025, facts and fiction GmbH, Bundesministerium für, Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), Stadthof Hanau, satis&fy AG, Stadt Hanau Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts, Best Store Concept, Stadthof Hanau, satis&fy AG, Stadt Hanau Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts

ARCHITECTURE: Best Stand Smart
DSV auf der Tralog 2025, JOKE Event AG, DSV Air & Sea GmbH, DJHT Messestand – HEUTE LAUT. MORGEN STARK., CROMATICS GmbH, Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Gesellschaftlichen, Stadthof Hanau, satis&fy AG Stadt Hanau Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts

ARCHITECTURE: Best Stand S
Instagrid auf der bauma 2025, Wecause GmbH, Instagrid GmbH

ARCHITECTURE: Best Stand M
TENWAYS @ EUROBIKE 2025, D’art Design Gruppe GmbH, TENWAYS Technovation Europe B.V., Klimawerkstatt. Gemeinsam für ein gutes Leben, facts and fiction GmbH, Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUKN), Nurturing Tomorrow – The, European Union Pavilion at Expo 2025, facts and fiction GmbH, European Union / European External, Action Service, Porsche x OMR 2025, Planwerkstatt GmbH, Porsche Deutschland GmbH, Agrob-Buchtal, „Road to Net Zero“, Studio Bachmannkern GmbH, Agrob Buchtal Solar Ceramics GmbH

ARCHITECTURE: Best Stand L
GO RED – Vodafone@OMR25, BECC Agency GmbH, Vodafone Deutschland GmbH, Simplify: Messeauftritt für Schattdecor auf der Interzum 2025, kohlhaas GmbH & Co KG, Schattdecor SE, Next Level – Vaillant ISH 2025, Schmidhuber Brand Experience GmbH, Vaillant Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Welcome Home – Bosch IFA 2024, Schmidhuber Brand Experience GmbH / Blackspace GmbH, BSH Hausgeräte Gmbh

Best Thematic Exhibition
The Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, BeWunder GmbH, Tellart B.V., Composing the Future – The Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2025, facts and fiction GmbH, Federal Ministry of Labor and Economics / Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Wa! Germany – The German Pavilion at Expo 2025, facts and fiction GmbH, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, Kuwait Pavilion Expo 2025 – Visionary Lighthouse, insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH, State of Kuwait, Ministry of Information, Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka – An Epic Journey of New Discoveries, Ministry of Culture – Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Culture – Saudi Arabia

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