The One Show

For over five decades, The One Show has set the global benchmark for creative excellence. Recognized as the world's most prestigious award in advertising, design, and beyond, the coveted Gold Pencil has become a career-defining symbol of achievement — and the Crystal Pencil continues that legacy by honoring the very best of the best: the year's most groundbreaking work across every discipline.

The One Show is more than an awards program — it's where the global creative community comes together to celebrate bold ideas, powerful storytelling, and innovation that moves culture forward. Each year, thousands of agencies, brands, nonprofits, and independent creators from around the world enter, with their work judged by a jury of 300+ industry leaders representing every corner of the globe.

Produced by The One Club for Creativity, the world's foremost nonprofit supporting and elevating the creative community, The One Show also serves a deeper purpose: as The One Club's most significant revenue generator, it powers the organization's year-round initiatives that make creative careers more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable. From mentorship programs to DEI initiatives, from student education to professional development, proceeds from The One Show go directly back into supporting creatives at every stage of their career journey.

Winning here isn't just recognition — it's a place in creative history, and a contribution to the future of the industry.

Mark your calendar: on Friday, May 15, 2026, The One Show returns to New York City. This is the industry's most anticipated event of the year — a not-to-be-missed gathering of the world's leading creatives, agencies, brands, and innovators, all coming together to honor the ideas that define culture.

The evening is the grand finale of Creative Week, a weeklong celebration of creativity that fills New York with award shows, panels, workshops, portfolio reviews, and networking. But the Gala is the pinnacle: a night dedicated to celebrating the ideas and people shaping the future of creativity.

The Gala stands as the creative industry's most essential night — uniting the people, ideas, and work that define our field.

Visit The One Club for Creativity's press page for more.

Ad Age, May 16 2025
Spotify's 'Spreadbeats' continues its awards run, topping... One Show

Horizont, May 15 2025
Serviceplan is the big winner at the One Show Awards

Campaign India, May 16 2025
Pencils with a point: India's creative edge sharpens

Bizcommunity, May 16 2025
One Show winners: Joe Public, Promise and TBWA\Hunt Lascaris

This year's “Your Victory, Crystalized” branding for The One Show 2026 features animations from a comprehensive visual and motion system created by the independent creative house NotReal, based in Madrid and Buenos Aires, part of a larger campaign to be used at award shows during Creative Week. Adaptations for the 2026 campaign animations were art-directed and designed into final assets by Design Army, based in Washington, DC.

Copy developed by Reed Words, based in New York and London, plays off the award name to describe different aspects of this highest creative achievement.

The One Club for Creativity, the world's foremost nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community, uses the revenue generated from entry fees to fund a number of initiatives for our industry. Learn more about The One Club and all our programs and events.

Members of The One Club for Creativity become part of an international community that stands behind our mission to champion excellence in advertising and design in all its forms. We offer memberships on individual and corporate levels. Learn more about becoming a member.