The 2026 PRINT Awards are officially open—and as we look ahead, we can’t help but take a look back at the branding work that lit up last year’s competition—highlighting the agencies and projects that set the bar for excellence. With the December 11th early-bird deadline approaching, now’s the time to submit your best work to save on your entry and join the stellar list of agencies and designers who take home PRINT Awards honors.
Branding takes many shapes, and the PRINT Awards celebrate that full spectrum. Our expanded branding categories offer multiple pathways to showcase your creativity, including Branding Collaborations, Identity & Systems, and Campaigns. This structure allows you to submit your work in the way that best showcases your concept, ensuring it’s highlighted with the clarity and nuance it deserves.
Take last year’s first place winner in the Branding Campaign category: an unapologetically graphic, high-energy identity for SXSW 2024: Global Reframing by Guerilla Suit. It captured the spirit of the festival with striking visuals that refused to blend in.
For the Branding Collaboration category, Tavern Agency earned first place for their Burt’s Bees 40th-anniversary campaign—an inspired limited-edition merch collaboration with Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The celebration beautifully translated the brand’s mission into a tangible experience, and that water bottle shaped like the iconic lip balm? Absolutely top-tier.
Our Branding— Identity Systems category honors comprehensive visual systems that bring together logo, color, typography, and imagery. Last year’s winner, The Auditorium Brand Identity by Design B&B, is a standout example—celebrating Chicago’s most culturally diverse theatre. Drawing inspiration from the venue’s historic interior, originally crafted by renowned architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, the visual system thoughtfully echoes both the grand and intricate details found throughout the building.
Curious to explore this year’s categories in depth? Dive into the full lineup and find the perfect home for your work. Remember, our first early bird deadline is December 11. Submit your entry today to save and put your best idea on center stage.
The post PRINT Awards 2026: Our Multiple Branding Categories appeared first on PRINT Magazine.