Each year, the American Advertising Awards recognize the best and brightest ads and campaigns created by Nebraska businesses and advertising agencies. AAF Nebraska members and our creative community participate in this prestigious event.
Created as an opportunity to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising, the American Advertising Awards have become the industry’s largest and most respected competition. Simply put, it’s the Oscar’s of advertising.
Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local awards are the first of the three tier, national competition. In the second tier, local winners compete against other winners in 14 district competitions held concurrently across the country. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the American Advertising Awards.
Early Bird Entry: November 1, 2025 – December 1, 2025
Entry Deadline: December 31, 2025
Late Entry Deadline: January 1 – January 6, 2026 by 5 PM
Reception, Dinner and Show: Friday, February 20, 2026, 1316 Jones, Omaha, NE
2025 – 2026 Competition Professional Rules and Categories
2025 – 2026 Competition Student Rules and Categories
Join AAF Nebraska to receive entry discounts!
Professional Member Entry Fees: Professional Non-Member Entry Fees:
$85 Early Bird Entry deadline December 1, 2025 $125 Early Bird Entry deadline December 1, 2025
$100 Round 2 Entry deadline December 31, 2025 $145 Round 2 Entry Fee deadline December 31, 2025
$150 Last Round Entry deadline January 6, 2026 $200 Last Round Entry deadline January 6, 2026
Student Entry Fee $40 – All student entries should be entered by January 6, 2026
Enter the American Advertising Awards Here
Entries will not be collected physically for the AAF Nebraska local level of judging.
Winning entrants will be contacted to make arrangements for their entry work to be delivered to Omaha prior to the American Advertising Awards | Creative Nebraska Show on February 20, 2026.
American Advertising Awards | Nebraska – Local Only Categories
The Local Only Category winners do not advance on to the AAF District 9 competition or to the AAA National competition.
Local Only Category 1 – Creative Nebraska
Recognizes excellence in creative expression within the state of Nebraska. Any medium. Winning entries will best evoke the spirit and originality of Nebraska.
Local Only Category 2 – Mosaic Nebraska: Community-Wide
Recognizes work done by creative people to further diversity, inclusion, and equity in Nebraska and nationwide.
Local Only Category 3 – Mosaic Nebraska: Ad Agency
Recognizes work done by creative people to further diversity, inclusion, and equity in Nebraska and nationwide.
Local Only Category 4 – Mosaic Nebraska: In-House Team
Recognizes work done by creative people to further diversity, inclusion, and equity in Nebraska and nationwide.
ADDY Award Winners Slide Deck: Click here.
You can find the list of the 2025 Professional Winners here and 2025 Student Winners here.
Meet 2025/2026 Creative Nebraska judges:
To be posted after judging weekend in mid-January.
Thank you to our Creative Nebraska Sponsors:
Heather Garth, AAF Nebraska Board Member, Co-Chair American Advertising Awards | Creative Nebraska
Heather is VP / Creative at Swanson Russell
Liz Rollin, AAF Nebraska Board Member, Co-Chair American Advertising Awards | Creative Nebraska
Liz is a Graphic Designer at Supportworks
Brad Eubanks, AAF Nebraska Board Member, 1st Vice President and Executive Board Mentor
Brad is a Creative Director at Smith Kroeger + RCG Advertising & Media
Teri Hamburger, AAF Nebraska Executive Director
