Online Gala is Free!!! Registration Required. Register Here.

Important Dates

October 1, 2020 Competition Opens

January 14, 2021 Q&A Entry Webinar noon,

January 29, 2021 Entry Deadline

February 5, 2021 Late Entry Deadline (subject to late fee)

March 17, 2021 On-line Gala Awards Show 7:00 pm Register Here

April 1, 20201 Deadline to Forward Eligible entries to District Competition

Deadline to order duplicate or upgraded awards

About the American Advertising Awards.

The American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, recognizing creative excellence and the very best advertising both in local competitions and nationwide. The American Advertising Awards are sponsored by the American Advertising Federation and represent the true creative spirit of advertising by recognizing all forms of advertising, from all types of media, created by all sizes and types of entrants, from anywhere in the country. There are now about 30,000 total entries.

The American Advertising Awards are unique among all advertising creative competitions. It is the only competition that includes three rigorous levels of judging. The Los Angeles competition is one of about 200 local competitions throughout the nation. Entries are first judged at a local level. Local winners then advance to one of 15 district competitions. Finally, district winners advance to the national finals. Awards are given to winners at all three levels of the competition: locally, district wide and nationally.

Gold and Silver winners from the Los Angeles professional competition will automatically move on to the district competition. Bronze winners may choose to move to the district competition if the entrant pays the district entry fee. In the Student competition, Gold winners move on to the district competition automatically while Silver and Bronze winners may move on if the entrant pays the district entry fee. The district competition includes winners from the competitions from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Las Vegas, Coastal California (Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties), Inland Empire and Palm Springs. Gold winners from the district competition move on to compete in the national final to compete against the best work from throughout the nation.

Rules and Categories

Please Note:

Rules and Categories change every year. If you have documents from previous years, please do not use them.

Only use the rules and categories for the current competition year from the links below.

New Categories for 2021:

Political Advertising

2021 Professional

Rules & Categories

2021 Student

Rules & Categories

Student Competition

The American Advertising Awards Student Competition has a set of categories that covers all major aspects of the advertising and design industry. This structure will provide a competitive framework and allow students to showcase their talent. The work will be held to the high creative standards and will be judged by a leading panel of talented creative professionals and experienced judges. Local Gold Winners will be automatically forwarded to the District competition for a chance to compete at the national finals

Cost:
$45 Each Individual Entry
$55 Each Campaign Entry

Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited U.S. educational institution. Recent graduates are eligible if the entry was created while a student. Work may be developed specially for this competition or submitted from previous projects or competitions. Work developed for paying clients will not be accepted with the exception of work created for student publications. Work must be created while entrant is a student not employed in the advertising industry. Student interns are eligible.

Download this Poster

To Post On Campus

Enter the Competition

Competition Closed

2022 Competition Opens October, 2021

2021 Los Angeles Gala

March 17, 2021 7:00 pm

The results are tabulated but, as opposed to what you may have read, we are not announcing the winners until our special online gala on March 17.

Please join us for an online extravaganza as we celebrate the best work from Los Angeles from 2020. The Los Angeles American Advertising Awards Gala will be online LIVE on Wednesday, March 17 at 7:00 pm Pacific Time. It is free, but you will need to register in advance to hold your spot. So grab your beverage of choice and fix some popcorn as you enjoy the show!!

Be sure to invite the entire team who may have worked on the entries to join you online (in a socially distanced and responsible way). We won’t be giving any clues in advance.