Zenith crowned agency of the year as Digital Media Awards celebrate 2026 winners

The Dublin Royal Convention Centre played host to the 2026 Digital Media Awards on Friday, October 9th, bringing together upwards of 600 innovators, creators and agency leaders to acknowledge top-tier performance across Ireland’s digital landscape. Supported by event partners including Ebow Digital, Elevate Media, The Business Post, Fifty5 Blue and Truehawk Media, the evening showcased the high standard of work shaping the sector today.

Taking top honours as best agency was Zenith, part of Core, capping a standout night for the team following their campaign work across multiple categories. Havas Media Ireland also secured a major tally, taking gold in best brand for Shannon Airport’s brand strategy and gold in best brand strategy for their Chick’n’dip campaign for Dominos. Meanwhile, Ignition Digital made a memorable debut by taking gold in the best newcomer category.

A central highlight of the night was the unveiling of a new special recognition and research-led category: The digital media hall of fame/outstanding contribution to the agency industry. The inaugural award was presented to Geraldine Jones of Publicis Dublin in recognition of her lasting influence, leadership and contribution to the agency sector.

In addition to agency honours, campaign excellence was celebrated across every sector:

PML Group and PHD earned gold in best use of digital OOH for their real-time Rockshore x League of Ireland activation.

Ebow Digital picked up gold in best creative for their work on HSE CervicalCheck.

Kooba captured gold for best website for the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission.

Core Optimisation took gold for best use of SEO with WaterWipes, while Havas Media Ireland won gold for best integrated campaign for their campaign promoting rural broadband growth adoption.

Publicis Dublin took gold in best tech and innovation for Be a Wind Turbine.

Oxfam Ireland won the best retail and consumer goods award for their Oxfam Ireland Postback initiative.

Emerging talent also shared the stage, with student awards highlighting the sector’s future leaders. Kate Fitzgerald from the University of Limerick claimed gold in the best student category. Shauna Keenan representing Technological University of the Shannon took silver, and Kayla Dibble, also from Technological University of the Shannon, was awarded bronze.

Reflecting on the night’s success, Trish Murphy, sponsorship director of the Digital Media Awards, credited the collaborative strength of the industry and thanked the event sponsors. “This celebration simply wouldn’t happen without their steadfast dedication to our industry,” she said. “We are profoundly thankful for their ongoing partnership with these Awards, which truly set the gold standard for digital achievement.”

For readers unable to join the festivities, the evening’s key moments have been captured in a dynamic highlight reel. Offering an exclusive look at the event’s standout highlights and electric atmosphere, it brings the celebration directly to your screen.

Full list of winners

Best agency

Gold - Zenith, part of Core

Best app

Gold - Matrix Internet

Best brand

Gold - Havas Media Ireland

Silver - An Post

Bronze - Chadwicks and TBWA Ireland

Best brand strategy, sponsored by Truehawk Media

Gold - Havas Media Ireland

Silver - Ebow Digital

Bronze - MyHome

Best collaboration (owner/brand/agency)

Gold - Elevate

Silver - Zenith, part of Core, Core Sponsorship and The Currency

Bronze - OMD/The Journal

Best conversion strategy

Gold - Friday Agency

Silver - All human

Bronze - An Post

Best creative

Gold - Ebow Digital

Silver - Spark Foundry, part of Core

Bronze - Mindshare Ireland and Invention Ireland

Best in Government and not-for-profit

Gold - Dentsu Ireland

Silver - Trans Equality Together

Bronze - Urban Brand Creative

Best in retail and consumer goods

Gold - Oxfam

Silver - Elevate

Bronze - Circle K

Best integrated campaign

Gold - Havas Media Ireland

Silver - Wilson Hartnell

Bronze - Media 365

Best newcomer

Gold - Ignition Digital

Best Sales Team

Gold - LADbible Ireland

Best search campaign

Gold - Buymedia

Silver - Bord Gáis Energy

Bronze - Ignition Digital

Best small agency (<15)

Gold - Leading Social

Silver - Total Digital

Bronze - Maverick Social

Best specialist agency

Gold - Fabric Social

Silver - GlowMetrics

Bronze - Lorg Media

Best student

Gold - Kate Fitzgerald, University of Limerick

Silver - Shauna Keenan, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands

Bronze - Kayla Dibble, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands

Best tech and innovation, sponsored by Ebow

Gold - Publicis Dublin

Silver - Adherent

Bronze - Axonista and IFI

Best use of AI

Gold - Equimetrics

Silver - Starcom, part of Core Bronze - Údarás na Gaeltachta

Best use of content/native

Gold - AudioXi and OMD

Silver - Spark Foundry, part of Core and Core Sponsorship

Bronze - Dentsu Ireland

Best use of data and insights, sponsored by Fifty5 Blue

Gold - PML Group

Silver - ESB Networks

Bronze - All human

Best use of digital audio, sponsored by Elevate Media

Gold - Forsman and Bodenfors

Silver - An Garda Síochána

Bronze - Dentsu Ireland

Best use of digital OOH

Gold - PML Group and PHD

Silver - 98 FM

Bronze - PML Group and Dentsu

Best use of display, sponsored by Business Post

Gold - Mediahuis Ireland

Silver - Reach PLC, with Omnicom/PHD

Bronze - Spark Foundry, part of Core

Best use of SEO

Gold - Core Optimisation Ltd

Silver - Wolfgang Digital

Bronze - Arekibo Communications

Best use of social

Gold - Starcom, part of Core and AIB

Silver - Fabric Social

Bronze - Goosebump

Best use of video

Gold - Life Style Sports

Silver - Starcom part of Core and Core Creative

Bronze - Daybreak

Best website

Gold - Kooba

Silver - Visit Belfast

Bronze - Daa plc

The digital media hall of fame/outstanding contribution to the agency industry

Geraldine Jones, Publicis Dublin

Find out more about the Digital Media Awards at digitalmedia.ie