Sunny Advertising named agency partner for the 2026 Advertising Capstone Challenge

Indie agency Sunny Advertising has been confirmed as the Official Agency Partner for the 2026 Advertising Capstone Challenge (ACC), marking a significant milestone as the first agency outside Sydney or Melbourne to be selected to host the national university competition.

Over the past 11 years, the annual Advertising Capstone Challenge has brought together leading universities from across Australia and New Zealand. Students receive a real client brief developed by the partner agency and its chosen client. After internal university competitions, the top two teams from each of the five universities – advance to the national final, where they pitch their campaign strategies to the client and agency in a live pitch environment.

The 2026 final will take place on the Sunshine Coast from 29 and 30 October and will bring together over 100 students, academics and industry professionals for a full day of presentations, judging and networking.

Sunny Advertising CEO Sarah McNeil said the partnership reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to developing emerging industry talent: “We have supported the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) students for more than a decade through industry bursaries, internships, work opportunities and ongoing collaborations, we are also active in other key industry groups including the Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA).

“We do this because it’s part of our DNA and hosting the Advertising Capstone Challenge is another meaningful opportunity for us to deepen our commitment to develop future industry talent locally, nationally and internationally.

“Being selected as the agency partner for this year’s Capstone Challenge also demonstrates that regional, independent agencies can deliver strategic thinking, creativity and world-class campaigns across local, national and international markets.

“We are also delighted to have our long-term client Bailey Ladders as the client for the students to work on as part of the campaign. Bailey Ladders is celebrating its 70th birthday this year so it’s a great opportunity for all Capstone participants to learn more about the business and develop a range of creative campaigns which celebrates this important legacy.”

Advertising Capstone Challenge convenor, UniSC academic Dr Harry Dugmore said the program plays an important role in preparing students for careers in advertising and marketing: “The Advertising Capstone Challenge is one of the most valuable learning experiences our advertising, design and marketing students can undertake. It allows them to work on real industry briefs, think strategically, and present their ideas in a professional agency environment while working to a client’s budget and timeline.

“We are delighted that Sunny Advertising, a Sunshine Coast-based agency working with local, national and international clients, has been selected as the partner agency for 2026.

“Historically, the Capstone Challenge has been hosted by major metropolitan agencies including DDB, Leo Burnett, Bastion and Ogilvy, this makes Sunny Advertising’s appointment a notable moment for the industry.

“We are excited to receive the brief from Sunny Advertising’s client Bailey Ladders and we are keen to see how students from Auckland University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University, Western Sydney University and the University of the Sunshine Coast respond with their proposals. The Capstone Challenge consistently showcases the wonderful creativity and deep levels of strategic thinking of the next generation of advertising and marketing professionals.”

Pictured (L-R): Mallory Cassidy, Ella Rupp, Holly Dymock, Stephen Laughlan, Sarah McNeil

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