Eligibility

Corporate events launched between Dec. 1, 2023, and Dec. 1, 2025, are eligible. A corporate event is defined as a proprietary marketing event at which external customers (other businesses, partners, or consumers) or members of the media are the target audience. (See categories for eligible event types.) The following events are ineligible: trade show exhibits and internal events, such as sales-incentive programs, company parties, and recognition programs. (Projects that have previously won a Corporate Event Award are ineligible.)

Categories

Projects may be entered in multiple categories, but each category submission will require an additional fee.

•  C-level/VIP Event. An event that targets executive customers or partners.

•  Cost Cutting. An event that has maintained or exceeded expectations despite a marked year-over-year budget reduction.

•  Customer-Appreciation Event. An event intended to build or foster relationships with customers or partners.

•  Customer Conference/Event. Any eligible marketing event held for traditional purposes, such as to generate awareness, affinity, sales, loyalty, etc. among customers and/or prospects.

•  Dealer/Distributor Event. An educational, recognition, or training event for external dealers, distributors, or franchisees.

•  Green Event. An event with both corporate objectives and Green objectives/directives to reduce the negative impact on the environment, as realized through sustainability, eco-friendly or recycled materials, and/or a reduction of energy consumption.

•  Hybrid Event. An event with both online and in-person components.

•  International Event. A corporate or media event held outside the United States.

•  Media Event. An event at which members of the media are the primary guests and the objective is to generate media coverage for a company and/or its products.

•  Nontraditional Event. An event for customers, partners, or the media that doesn't fit other categories.

•  Private Trade Show. An event that includes a trade show floor.

•  Product Launch. An event used to launch a product to customers, partners, or the media.

•  Road Show/Multivenue Event. An event presented in multiple locations. The event may or may not be based on a vehicle platform, such as a tractor-trailer.

•  User Conference. An educational event hosted by a corporation.

•  Virtual (Online/Digital) Event. A stand-alone virtual event (aka online or digital event) targeting customers, prospects, and/or the media. Examples include: stand-alone virtual exhibits, online conferences, virtual user conferences, webinars, etc.

NOTE: EXHIBITOR reserves the right to disband the awards program if the quantity of entries affects the viability and integrity of the program. In this case, applicable entry fees will be refunded.

The competition will be judged by a panel of marketing and design experts.

Click on a photo to view each judge's bio.

Criteria
Entries are judged primarily on their measurable results and level of innovation. Entries must provide measurable, numeric objectives and corresponding measurable, numeric results such as leads gathered, sales made as a direct result of the event, media coverage, or return on investment. Entries without measurable objectives and results will not be considered.

Recognition
Multiple awards are offered along with one Judges' Choice Award, the competition's top honor. Awards may not be granted in all categories. Winners will be notified by Feb. 15, 2026. Winners that provide print-quality visuals as described in the Submission Instructions will be featured in the August/September issue of EXHIBITOR magazine. Entries also are considered for features and columns unrelated to the competition.

>> View articles featuring past winners.