DMSM 2027 Digital Marketing & Social Media Summit

September 2026

Early-Bird Deadline

15th November 2026

Final Deadline

January 2026

Award Winners Announcement

What It Is

The ACEF Digital Marketing & Social Media Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 is a premier platform that celebrates excellence in digital innovation, social media creativity, and data-driven marketing strategies.

It brings together industry leaders, marketers, agencies, creators, and brand professionals to recognize campaigns, teams, and individuals who set new benchmarks in the ever-evolving digital ecosystem.

Why It Matters

  • Breakthrough campaigns that inspire the industry.
  • Strategies that turn creativity into measurable business outcomes.
  • Technology & Storytelling: How data intersects to shape the future of brand marketing.
  • Staying Ahead: In a world where social media defines brand perception, staying ahead of trends is no longer optional — it's essential.

Benefits of Participating

✅ Industry Recognition

Get acknowledged among the best in digital & social media, boosting brand reputation and credibility.

✅ Networking Opportunities

Connect with CMOs, agency leaders, creators, and digital innovators from across industries.

✅ Learning & Insights

Gain access to cutting-edge trends, success stories, and practical strategies shared by leaders.

✅ Brand Visibility

Showcase your campaigns and success stories across ACEF’s platforms and media partners.

✅ Talent & Team Motivation

Recognition boosts morale, motivating teams and professionals to push creative boundaries.

✅ Competitive Edge

Benchmark against the finest campaigns and strategies in the region to stay ahead.

Award Categories

Explore our comprehensive list of categories across multiple digital domains. Find the perfect fit to showcase your outstanding work, whether you are an agency, brand, platform, or individual.
(Entries are invited for Campaigns and activities executed from Jan 2026 - Dec 2026.)
No Fees to Apply - You can submit multiple entries - Fees are only applicable for winning entries.

1️⃣ DIGITAL MARKETING

Agency

  • Digital Marketing Agency of the Year
  • Excellence in Integrated Digital Strategy
  • Excellence in Omnichannel Digital Marketing
  • Excellence in Data-Driven Digital Marketing
  • Excellence in Digital Innovation

Brand

  • Excellence in Brand-Led Digital Marketing
  • Excellence in Digital Customer Experience
  • Excellence in Digital Transformation in Marketing
  • Excellence in Brand Community Building
  • Excellence in In-House Digital Marketing

Industry

  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in Retail
  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in BFSI
  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in Healthcare
  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in Education
  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in Travel & Hospitality
  • Excellence in Digital Marketing in Technology & SaaS
  • Add your sector and apply

Platform

  • Excellence in Instagram Marketing
  • Excellence in Facebook/Meta Marketing
  • Excellence in LinkedIn Marketing
  • Excellence in YouTube Marketing
  • Excellence in TikTok Marketing
  • Excellence in WhatsApp Marketing

Campaign

  • Best Integrated Digital Marketing Campaign
  • Best Social Media Marketing Campaign
  • Best Product Launch Campaign
  • Best B2B Digital Campaign
  • Best B2C Digital Campaign
  • Best Customer Acquisition Campaign

Team & Innovation

  • Digital Marketing Team of the Year
  • Best In-House Digital Team
  • Best Cross-Functional Marketing Team
  • Excellence in AI-Powered Digital Marketing
  • Excellence in Martech Innovation
  • Excellence in Digital Personalization
  • Excellence in Predictive Marketing
2️⃣ PERFORMANCE MARKETING

Agency

  • Performance Marketing Agency of the year
  • Excellence in Paid Media Management
  • Excellence in Growth Marketing Strategy
  • Excellence in Performance Analytics
  • Excellence in Conversion Optimization

Brand

  • Excellence in ROI-Driven Marketing
  • Excellence in Customer Acquisition
  • Excellence in Full-Funnel Performance Strategy
  • Excellence in Commerce Performance
  • Excellence in In-House Performance Marketing

Industry

  • Excellence in Performance Marketing in E-commerce
  • Excellence in Performance Marketing in Retail
  • Excellence in Performance Marketing in Finance & Fintech
  • Excellence in Performance Marketing in Travel
  • Excellence in Performance Marketing in Education

Platform

  • Excellence in Google Ads Performance
  • Excellence in Meta Ads Performance
  • Excellence in LinkedIn Lead Generation
  • Excellence in TikTok Performance Campaigns
  • Excellence in Amazon Marketplace Performance
  • Excellence in YouTube Performance Advertising

Campaign

  • Best Lead Generation Campaign
  • Best Conversion Campaign
  • Best Retargeting Campaign
  • Best Paid Search Campaign
  • Best Affiliate Marketing Campaign
  • Best Mobile App Acquisition Campaign

Team & Innovation

  • Performance Marketing Team of the Year
  • Best Media Buying Team
  • Best Growth Marketing Team
  • Excellence in AI-Driven Performance Marketing
  • Excellence in Predictive Analytics
  • Excellence in Marketing Automation
  • Excellence in Real-Time Optimization
3️⃣ CONTENT MARKETING

Agency

  • Content Marketing Agency of the year
  • Excellence in Content Strategy
  • Excellence in Branded Content
  • Excellence in Editorial Marketing
  • Excellence in Video Content Marketing

Brand

  • Excellence in Brand Storytelling
  • Excellence in Thought Leadership
  • Excellence in Educational Content
  • Excellence in Community-Led Content
  • Excellence in In-House Content Studio

Industry

  • Excellence in Content Marketing in B2B
  • Excellence in Content Marketing in BFSI
  • Excellence in Content Marketing in Retail
  • Excellence in Content Marketing in Healthcare
  • Excellence in Content Marketing in Media & Entertainment

Platform

  • Excellence in Instagram Content
  • Excellence in YouTube Content Strategy
  • Excellence in LinkedIn Thought Leadership
  • Excellence in TikTok Content Marketing
  • Excellence in Podcast Content Marketing

Campaign

  • Best Content Marketing Campaign
  • Best Storytelling Campaign
  • Best Video Content Campaign
  • Best Educational Content Initiative
  • Best Social Content Series

Team & Innovation

  • Content Marketing Team of the Year
  • Best Brand Content Team
  • Best Editorial Team
  • Excellence in AI-Assisted Content Creation
  • Excellence in Interactive Content
  • Excellence in Immersive Storytelling
  • Excellence in AR/VR Content Marketing
4️⃣ SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Agency

  • Social Media Agency of the year
  • Excellence in Social Media Strategy
  • Excellence in Community Management
  • Excellence in Social Engagement Strategy

Brand

  • Excellence in Brand Engagement on Social Media
  • Excellence in Social Community Building
  • Excellence in Social Customer Experience
  • Excellence in Real-Time Marketing

Industry

  • Excellence in Social Media Marketing in Retail
  • Excellence in Social Media Marketing in Entertainment
  • Excellence in Social Media Marketing in Hospitality
  • Excellence in Social Media Marketing in FMCG

Platform

  • Excellence in Instagram Reels Marketing
  • Excellence in Facebook Community Marketing
  • Excellence in LinkedIn Brand Engagement
  • Excellence in TikTok Viral Marketing
  • Excellence in Snapchat AR Marketing
  • Excellence in X/Twitter Engagement Strategy

Campaign

  • Best Viral Campaign
  • Best Social Engagement Campaign
  • Best User-Generated Content Campaign
  • Best Social Commerce Campaign
  • Best Livestream Campaign

Team & Innovation

  • Social Media Team of the Year
  • Best Community Management Team
  • Best Social Listening Team
  • Excellence in AI for Social Media
  • Excellence in Social Commerce Innovation
  • Excellence in Interactive Social Experiences
5️⃣ CREATOR & INFLUENCER MARKETING

Agency

  • Excellence in Influencer Marketing Agency
  • Excellence in Creator Partnerships
  • Excellence in Influencer Strategy

Brand

  • Excellence in Creator-Led Brand Marketing
  • Excellence in Influencer Brand Collaboration
  • Excellence in Community-Led Influence

Industry

  • Excellence in Influencer Marketing in Beauty
  • Excellence in Influencer Marketing in Fashion
  • Excellence in Influencer Marketing in Travel
  • Excellence in Influencer Marketing in Gaming

Platform

  • Excellence in Instagram Creator Marketing
  • Excellence in YouTube Influencer Campaigns
  • Excellence in TikTok Creator Campaigns
  • Excellence in LinkedIn Creator Thought Leadership

Campaign

  • Best Influencer Marketing Campaign
  • Best Creator-Led Commerce Campaign
  • Best Micro-Influencer Campaign
  • Best Celebrity Collaboration Campaign

Team & Innovation

  • Influencer Marketing Team of the Year
  • Creator Partnership Team of the Year
  • Excellence in AI-Powered Influencer Discovery
  • Excellence in Creator Commerce Innovation
  • Excellence in Virtual Influencer Marketing
6️⃣ CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT & CX

Agency

  • Excellence in Customer Engagement Strategy
  • Excellence in CX Consulting
  • Excellence in Customer Journey Design

Brand

  • Excellence in Customer Experience
  • Excellence in Loyalty & Retention
  • Excellence in Omnichannel Engagement
  • Excellence in Customer-Centric Innovation

Industry

  • Excellence in CX in Retail
  • Excellence in CX in Banking
  • Excellence in CX in Telecom
  • Excellence in CX in Hospitality

Platform

  • Excellence in WhatsApp Customer Engagement
  • Excellence in Conversational Commerce
  • Excellence in CRM-Led Engagement
  • Excellence in Mobile Customer Experience

Campaign

  • Best Customer Loyalty Campaign
  • Best Omnichannel Engagement Campaign
  • Best Customer Retention Campaign
  • Best Community Engagement Campaign

Team & Innovation

  • Customer Experience Team of the Year
  • CRM & Loyalty Team of the Year
  • Customer Engagement Team of the Year
  • Excellence in AI-Powered CX
  • Excellence in Predictive Customer Engagement
  • Excellence in Voice & Conversational AI
  • Excellence in Hyper-Personalization
7️⃣ AI & MARKETING AUTOMATION

Agency

  • Excellence in AI Marketing Solutions
  • Excellence in Marketing Automation Strategy
  • Excellence in AI-Driven Campaign Management

Brand

  • Excellence in AI-Led Brand Transformation
  • Excellence in Intelligent Customer Engagement
  • Excellence in Automation-Led Marketing

Industry

  • Excellence in AI Marketing in Retail
  • Excellence in AI Marketing in BFSI
  • Excellence in AI Marketing in Healthcare
  • Excellence in AI Marketing in E-commerce

Platform

  • Excellence in Generative AI Marketing
  • Excellence in AI Chatbot Engagement
  • Excellence in AI-Powered CRM
  • Excellence in AI Content Automation

Campaign

  • Best AI-Powered Marketing Campaign
  • Best Marketing Automation Campaign
  • Best AI Customer Experience Initiative

Team & Innovation

  • AI Marketing Team of the Year
  • Marketing Automation Team of the Year
  • Data Intelligence Team of the Year
  • Excellence in Generative AI Innovation
  • Excellence in Predictive Marketing Intelligence
  • Excellence in Autonomous Marketing Systems
  • Excellence in AI Ethics & Responsible Marketing

Judging Criteria

  • 1. Creativity & Innovation: Originality, storytelling, and innovative use of platforms.
  • 2. Strategy & Relevance: Clear objectives aligned with brand goals and audience targeting.
  • 3. Execution & Engagement: Quality of visuals/copy, user interaction, virality, and use of creators.
  • 4. Impact & Effectiveness: Measurable KPIs (reach, ROI, conversions) and contribution to brand image.
  • 5. Nomination Eligibility: Entries are invited for Campaigns and activities executed from Jan 2026 - Dec 2026. All Entries goes through Jury Process and Jury Decision will be final.

Who Should Attend

Brand-Side Professionals

Agency Professionals

Influencers & Creators

Technology & Martech Providers

Investors & Business Leaders

Our Partners

Partner 1 Partner 2 Partner 3 Partner 4 Partner 5 Partner 5