Since 1960, the Clio Awards have dished out annual trophies to the most memorable ads the creative marketing world has to offer. In 2026, that old-school ceremony is getting a new media reinvention. An event called Clio Creators will honor shining examples of sponsored creator content across all major social media platforms.
The Clios lineup already includes a number of category-specific ceremonies in fields as diverse as music, sports, and cannabis. The latest addition to that series of events will pay homage to the impactful and lucrative work creators are doing across their channels. A 2025 report from IAB pegged the creator economy as a $37 billion business, and more brands are flowing into the space with each passing day.
In short, creator marketing has become too big for the Clios to ignore. Though Clio Creators is being launched in partnership with YouTube and the creator marketing firm Influential (which Publicis acquired for $500 million in 2024), creative work from across the social media landscape will be honored. Submissions will be sourced from Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, according to a press release.
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“Creators are shaping the future of storytelling and Clio Creators provides the perfect platform to honor that innovation,” said Influential Chief Communication Officer Chris Detert in a statement. “Influential is proud to help identify the right voices, surface standout work, and collaborate with the jury to celebrate campaigns and content defining this space.”
Submissions will be broken down into Creator and Brand tracks, and agencies are also being encouraged to submit their work for consideration. The Creator track will focus on work that promotes an individual’s persona or content, while the Brand track will hone in on campaigns that leverage creator talent to drive marketing objectives, achieve cultural relevance, and engage with consumers.
Once the submissions are collected, the Clios’ jury members will put together a list of nominees for a show that will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles this November. The ceremony will also be streamed on YouTube. Creators, brands, and agencies who want to be part of the festivities can submit via the Clios website.
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