HISPANIC MARKETING COUNCIL OPENS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2026 STRATEGIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS 

The Hispanic Marketing Council (HMC) opened submissions for the 2026 HMC Strategic Excellence Awards, the industry’s only competition honoring strategic excellence in Hispanic and multicultural marketing. Now celebrating its 20^th year, the awards recognize breakthrough cultural insights, superior strategic thinking, and effectiveness in engaging Latino audiences. HMC will announce winners during the 2026 HMC Annual Summit, April 22-23, 2026, in New York City.

The 2026 jury will be co-led by two of the industry’s most respected leaders: Luis Miguel Messianu, founder, creative chairman and CEO of MEL (Messianu/Edelman/Lerma) and Stephanie Eaddy, multicultural marketing lead for the North America operating unit at The Coca-Cola Co.

This year, HMC will partner with FIAP (Festival Iberoamericano de Creatividad) to further amplify and showcase U.S. Hispanic marketing communications excellence. Participating Strategic Excellence Award winners will automatically shortlist at FIAP representing the U.S. region in the 2026 festival.

In addition, the Pro Bono category has been expanded and updated as Cause Marketing – this category will now feature both paid and unpaid campaigns. It also reflects the increasing role that purpose-driven initiatives and social impact efforts play in building trust and driving meaningful engagement among younger and diverse growth markets. Other categories include:

• Best Hispanic Cultural Insight
• Mainstream Impact
• Impact on Innovation
• Impactful Multicultural Research
• Shopper and/or Experiential Impact
• Media Connections & Content Strategy Impact
• Content Creator & Consumer Engagement Strategy
• Creative Ingenuity

“For 20 years now, the Strategic Excellence Awards has celebrated the best examples of culturally powered marketing that moves business and moves people,” said Victor Paredes, HMC education chair and vice president of cultural strategy at Collage Group. “As brands navigate a shifting marketplace and increasingly complex cultural landscape, strategic rigor, authentic Hispanic insights and courageous creative are more important than ever.”

These awards are open to all U.S.-based companies for campaigns that have run anytime between January 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026. Click here for more information on eligibility and criteria.
Key Dates & Deadlines

• Submission Deadline: February 27, 2026
• Shortlist Announced: March 27, 2026
• Winners Announced: April 22, 2026

To submit a campaign or for more information about the HMC Strategic Excellence Awards, visit https://hispanicmarketingcouncil.org/strategic-excellence-awards/ and follow HMC on LinkedIn and Instagram at @hmchispanic.

About HMC: Founded in 1996 as the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, the Hispanic Marketing Council is the national trade organization of all marketing, communications, and media firms with trusted Hispanic expertise.