MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Google officially announces the launch of the 2026 YouTube Works Awards Southeast Asia (SEA), in collaboration with Deloitte, recognizing the most innovative and effective advertising campaigns on YouTube that contribute to the region’s digital economy.

YouTube Works Awards Southeast Asia 2026

These Awards will highlight how brands, agencies, and businesses use YouTube to achieve tangible business results, increase ROI, and influence the future of video.

The 2026 edition features a robust lineup of returning categories, which include:

1. The Big Bang: Celebrating the most effective launch campaigns.
2. Multiformat Storytelling: Impactful storytelling across formats and durations (Shorts, Long-form, Connected TV).
3. Brands & Creators: The most impactful partnerships between brands and YouTube creators.
4. Masters of Media: Strategic media excellence that drives exceptional results.
5. Best of Festive: The most effective campaigns for festive moments.
6. Best of Market: Acknowledging the best overall local YouTube campaign of the period.
7. Agency of the Year (Media, Creative, and Specialty): Honoring the agencies that contribute most to client success through winning submissions.
8. The Grand Prix. The ultimate award, celebrating the best overall Southeast Asia YouTube campaign.

Last year, Filipino excellence in digital marketing and video advertising received notable recognition when GCash advanced to the regional level of the prestigious 2025 YouTube Works Awards. Their standout #GSafeTayo video ad campaign was selected as the only entry from the Philippines, competing against other innovative and creative campaigns from Southeast Asian nations, showcasing the country’s talent and creativity on a larger, regional stage.

Celebrating the Synergy of Human Creativity and AI: Best Use of AI for Creative category

This year marks a pivotal moment for the industry, highlighting the collaboration between human intuition and technological innovation. The YouTube Works Awards now features a new category, “Best Use of AI for Creative,” at the Southeast Asia level of the competition.

This new category awards the most innovative applications of generative AI in creative development—such as scaling hyper-personalized content, enabling new audience interactions, or realizing creative visions beyond traditional capabilities. Judging will center on “Human-AI Synergy,” evaluating how human talent uses AI to drive innovation. The category emphasizes that AI’s effectiveness relies on the creativity of the user, celebrating human talent that guides these tools to produce outstanding campaign outcomes.

“In today’s landscape, AI is a collaborative partner unlocking new creative frontiers,” said Prep Palacios, Country Manager of Google Philippines. “We are committed to the standard of transparency: AI is a tool that enhances and honors, rather than replaces, human creativity. With this new category, we want to celebrate the pioneering spirit of brands that use technology to amplify their vision and break production conventions.”

This year, Deloitte will manage the methodology and judging for the YouTube Works Awards. The winners will be chosen by a panel of top marketing, media, and creative experts from Southeast Asia.

To enter the YouTube Works Awards, brands and agencies are invited to submit their entries through the official portal. The deadline for entry submissions is April 30, 2026. The eligibility period for submissions covers campaigns run from March 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.

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