OAAA Reveals 2026 OBIE Awards Shortlist as the Industry’s Premier Creative Awards Return to New York

The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) unveiled the shortlist for the 84th Annual OBIE Awards, recognizing the most exceptional, creative and impactful work in out of home (OOH) advertising. This year’s shortlist represents the brands, agencies and creatives setting the standard for the medium and demonstrates OOH’s unique power to capture attention, shape culture and create meaningful connections in the real world.

“For eight decades, the OBIE Awards have celebrated the ideas that show what is possible when creativity meets the real world,” said Olivia Oshry, Chief Marketing Officer, OAAA. “This year’s shortlist reflects just how expansive that canvas has become, from powerful brand storytelling and experiential activations to exceptional craft, innovation and public service.”

This year’s shortlist was selected by a jury of leading creative voices from across the industry. The group included representatives from Microsoft, Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny, Giant Spoon, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, VML and The Kitchen North America, with PJ Pereira, Founder & Creative Chairman of Pereira O’Dell, serving as Chief Judge. Entries were evaluated based on the strength and clarity of the idea, excellence in execution and creative impact within the medium, with an increased emphasis this year on work that transcends format and creates meaningful cultural impact.

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The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the OBIE Awards. This October, the OOH industry’s longest-running awards program will return to New York City as a standalone event at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The move marks a new chapter for the OBIEs, bringing the awards closer to the heart of the advertising and creative community and creating a dedicated stage for the work pushing the medium forward.

The evening will be hosted by industry visionaries Susan Credle and David Shing, bringing two of advertising’s most distinctive and influential voices to the OBIE stage. Susan Credle, former Chair and Global Chief Creative Officer of FCB and recipient of the prestigious Lion of St. Mark at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, has spent more than four decades shaping some of modern advertising’s most iconic and effective work. Her career has been defined by an enduring belief in the power of great ideas to create both cultural and commercial impact. David Shing has built his career at the intersection of creativity, technology and culture, challenging brands and the industry to think differently about how to earn attention, connect with people, and become part of culture.

“Great creativity has always been about earning attention with an idea people can’t ignore, and few canvases demand that more than out of home,” said Susan Credle and David Shing, 2026 OBIE Awards Co-Hosts. “The OBIEs celebrate the people and ideas that understand the power of the real world to surprise, provoke, delight and become part of culture. We’re thrilled to come together in New York to celebrate the work and creative talent continuing to push what’s possible in OOH.”

The 84th Annual OBIE Awards will take place Thursday, October 15, 2026, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The celebration will bring together brands, agencies, creatives, media companies and industry leaders for an evening dedicated entirely to the ideas and people advancing creativity in OOH. OBIE Hall of Fame, Student OBIE, Craft, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum OBIE award winners will be revealed live during the October 15 ceremony.

For more information about the 2026 OBIE Awards, visit oaaa.org/obie-awards.

About the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA)

The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the national trade association representing the out of home (OOH) advertising industry. OAAA’s mission is to protect, promote, and advance the medium through government affairs and advocacy, industry research and market intelligence, brand and agency engagement, and industry leadership and convening. OAAA works to ensure OOH’s essential role in the modern media mix by advancing standards, aligning the industry around shared priorities, and shaping the future of OOH. Founded in 1891, OAAA serves more than 850 member companies, including media owners, advertisers, agencies, ad tech providers, and suppliers.