AKQA’s Tara McKenty + Saatchi & Saatchi’s Mandie van der Merwe named D&AD 2026 Jury Presidents
D&AD, the global non-profit championing excellence in design and commercial creativity, has today announced the first group of Jury Presidents for the D&AD 2026 Awards programme.
The 2026 Jury Presidents, a line-up of visionary creative leaders who embody the manifesto’s spirit, includes two from Australia: Tara McKenty (above left), Chief Creative Officer Australia and New Zealand at AKQA, who will lead Digital Marketing, and Mandie van der Merwe (above right), Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, who will preside over Radio & Audio.
The 2026 Jury Presidents include a global mix of creative experts from leading international brands and agencies, including Dentsu Tokyo, Airbnb, FCB Global, 72andSunny, Havas Health & You, Dutch Uncle and more.
New for the D&AD Awards 2026 are categories that reflect how creativity is evolving:
Brand Transformation: celebrates the power of strategic insight and measurable business or cultural influence, alongside executional craft, creating space for entries that excel in both thinking and making.
Cultural Influence: recognises commercial creativity that makes a cultural impression. Work that sparks conversations, shapes identity, sets trends, or embeds itself into culture.
Sports Entertainment: celebrates creativity within the world of sport; from campaigns and sponsorships to branded content and fan experiences – where storytelling connects teams, brands and audiences.
For over 60 years, D&AD has celebrated and championed excellence in design and commercial creativity. Now, as the industry faces a culture of hesitation and passive observation, D&AD is reigniting its founding spirit, creativity that acts and moves culture forward.
As part of the launch, D&AD has created an editorial hub exploring the question Is Creativity Dead or Alive? a series of articles, interviews and insights examining the state of creativity today. The platform brings together voices from across design and advertising to explore how creativity is evolving. Visit the editorial hub at dandad.org/alive.
Key D&AD Awards Dates 2026:
Open for Entry: 26 November 2025
Super Early Bird Deadlines (30% off) Payment: 14 January 2026
Early Bird Deadlines (20% off) Payment: 11 February 2026
Final Deadline Payment: 26 March 2026
D&AD Winners Announced: 19-20 May 2026
D&AD Festival: May 2026
D&AD Awards Ceremony: September 2026
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