The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) has opened entries for the 2026 AiMCO Awards, with the ceremony moving to The Roundhouse in Sydney on February 25, 2027. The sixth annual awards program expands to 36 categories across three streams, its broadest list yet.

Last year’s program drew more than 255 entries, the largest field in AiMCO’s history, and attracted over 350 guests to the inaugural AiMCO Summit and Awards. Entries this year are judged by an independent panel that has numbered more than 90 senior practitioners drawn from brands, agencies, talent management firms and the creator community.

The 2026 categories are split into Creators (15), Brand (10) and Industry (11). Two categories, “Best Independent Talent” and “Unsung Hero,” are free to enter. The top honor, the “AiMCO Most Influential Award,” is drawn from Brand category winners and judged by marketers only, while the “People’s Choice Award” is the program’s headline creator honor, open to any shortlisted creator and decided by public vote.

That structure builds on last year’s inaugural ceremony, where content creator Adelle Petropoulos won the first AiMCO “People’s Choice Creator” award, and HELLO and Paramount Pictures took “Most Influential Campaign” for their “Mission: Impossible Night Run” work targeting Gen Z audiences. HELLO also won best food and beverage campaign and best integrated campaign for Wingstop’s Australian launch, plus best family, parenting and pets campaign for Huggies, while Uber Australia was named marketing team of the year.

AiMCO Managing Director Patrick Whitnall said the expanded category list reflects the industry’s growth. “The 36 category-strong awards list demonstrates just how much the industry has grown and established itself as a recognized and effective form of marketing,” he said. “Creators are building long-term brand partnerships and businesses of their own, and brands and agencies are delivering integrated, data-led influencer campaigns that stand up against any other channel.”

On the venue change, Whitnall said the move reflects the scale of last year’s turnout. “Last year was our biggest yet, and an industry growing this quickly deserves a night that matches it. The Roundhouse gives us the space to bring the whole industry together in one room.”

Early bird entries close September 17, 2026, with standard entries closing October 1. Entries are open to AiMCO members and non-members via the organization’s entry portal. Early bird ticket sales for the awards night close November 27.

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