MAD STARS 2026 Opens Final Call for Entries Ahead of June 15 Deadline

For 2026, MAD STARS has reclassified its entry categories to better reflect how creative work is developed, executed, and evaluated across the evolving marketing and communications landscape.

by BIA Staff
· May 26, 2026

South Korea’s MAD STARS, the international advertising and marketing festival held annually in the oceanfront city of Busan, has opened its final call for entries for the 2026 awards, with June 15 as the closing deadline for submissions worldwide. Regular entry fees apply through May 29, after which final-period rates take effect.

Now in its 19th edition, MAD STARS is open to agencies, brands, production companies, media companies, startups, public institutions, nonprofits, independent creators, and the general public.

For 2026, the festival has reclassified its entry categories into two groups: the SOLUTION Group and the POSITIVE IMPACT Group.

The SOLUTION Group covers campaigns that combine strategy and execution, evaluating how effectively creative ideas address business and communications challenges. The POSITIVE IMPACT Group recognizes work that generates positive change across society, with entries evaluated on the basis of sustainability, diversity, health, public relevance, and responsibility. A new Health Stars category has been established within the POSITIVE IMPACT Group.

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MAD STARS has also updated its entry and judging framework to address the use of generative AI. A Use of AI sub-category has been added to the Craft section. All entrants are required to confirm whether AI was used in production and, where applicable, disclose the specific methods and scope of its use.

“This disclosure framework is designed to ensure transparency and fairness in how AI-assisted work is assessed across categories,” said MAD STARS.

The 2026 awards will be judged by more than 350 professionals from 83 locations. Submissions undergo online preliminary judging, with selected entries named Finalists before advancing to the First Final Judging Round, also conducted online. The Second and Last Rounds of Final Judging are held in person in Busan.