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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe 2026 Ad Age Small Agency Awards recognized independent agencies for results and ingenuity rather than size. To qualify, an agency had to be at least 51% privately held and employ no more than 150 full-time people. Entries closed April 15, 2026, and winners were announced at Ad Age’s Los Angeles conference on July 21–22.
What the awards recognize
Ad Age describes the program as recognizing small, independent agencies “that are competing—and winning—on performance, not scale.” Its stated focus includes strong client work, financially healthy businesses, and workplaces where people can stay and grow. The awards page describes those priorities at Ad Age’s 2026 Small Agency Awards page.
Who was eligible in 2026
The formal requirements for the 2026 awards were that an entrant be majority independently owned, with at least 51% privately held, and employ no more than 150 full-time employees. The “no more than 150” threshold includes agencies with exactly 150 full-time employees.
Categories and judging
The program included Small Agency of the Year, Agency of the Year distinctions, and individual awards. People categories included Executive of the Year, Account Manager of the Year, Agency Producer of the Year, Creative of the Year, Media Planner of the Year, and Strategic Planner of the Year.
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An agency could win in more than one category. Ad Age reserved the ability to add or withhold awards based on the quality of submissions, and judges could move an entry to another category if they considered it a better fit. The awards page does not, by itself, establish a complete list of winners or explain each winner’s accomplishments; this overview therefore does not attribute awards to specific agencies or people.
2026 dates and Los Angeles conference
The 2026 entry period opened February 10 and closed April 15 at 5 p.m. EDT. Ad Age said finalists would be notified in June and winners announced at its July conference. The conference took place in Los Angeles on July 21–22, 2026, with two days of workshops, case studies, and conversations for independent agencies. These dates are specific to the 2026 cycle; that entry period and conference have passed.
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What entries cost in 2026
Ad Age’s 2026 fee schedule set Agency of the Year entry prices by agency headcount and charged one listed fee for entries in other categories. These are historical prices for the completed 2026 cycle, not current entry prices.
| 2026 entry type | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Agency of the Year, 1–10 employees | $375 per entry |
| Agency of the Year, 11–75 employees | $425 per entry |
| Agency of the Year, 76–150 employees | $500 per entry |
| All other categories | $425 per entry |
The 2026 FAQ said submitted fees were nonrefundable and that the final deadline would not be extended. The published schedule is on Ad Age’s 2026 awards FAQ.
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What winners receive
According to Ad Age’s Small Agency Network page, 2026 award winners receive one year of complimentary network membership for up to three team members. The network connects agency founders, principals, and senior leaders through workshops, roundtables, AMAs, a monthly newsletter, a members-only online hub, a private WhatsApp group, benchmarking surveys, an Ad Age All Access subscription, and opportunities to contribute to AdAge.com.
For context, the page lists 2027 membership at $2,500 per year for up to three people, with each additional member priced at $800 per year. Applications are free; fees are requested only if an applicant is accepted. Membership is annual and does not renew automatically. These are the published 2027 terms, not the value of the complimentary 2026 winner benefit. See Ad Age’s Small Agency Network page for its terms.
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