Google officially announces the launch of the 2026 edition of the YouTube Works Awards Southeast Asia (SEA), in – collaboration with professional services organization Deloitte, celebrating the most effective and creative advertising campaigns on YouTube that also drive the region’s digital economy. 
This Awards will put a spotlight on how brands, agencies and businesses leverage YouTube to deliver real business results, drive ROI, and shape the future of video.
The 2026 edition features a robust lineup of returning categories, which include:
The Big Bang: Celebrating the most effective launch campaigns.
Multiformat Storytelling: Impactful storytelling across formats and durations (Shorts, Long-form, Connected TV).
Brands & Creators: The most impactful partnerships between brands and YouTube creators.
Masters of Media: Strategic media excellence that drives exceptional results.
Best of Festive: The most effective campaigns for festive moments.
Best of Market: Acknowledging the best overall local YouTube campaign of the period.
Agency of the Year (Media, Creative, and Specialty): Honoring the agencies that contribute most to client success through winning submissions.
The Grand Prix. The ultimate award, celebrating the best overall Southeast Asia YouTube campaign.
Last year, Filipino excellence was recognized by GCash’s breakthrough to the regional level of the 2025 YouTube Works Awards, with its #GSafeTayo video ad campaign being the sole Philippine entry going up against other Southeast Asian representatives.
Celebrating the Synergy of Human Creativity and AI: Best Use of AI for Creative category
A pivotal moment for the industry this year, emphasizing the synergy between human intuition and technological innovation—YouTube Works Awards introduces the new category “Best Use of AI for Creative” in the Southeast Asia level of the competition.
This new category recognizes the most innovative use of generative AI in creative development—whether to hyper-personalize content at scale, foster novel audience interactions, or realize creative visions previously unattainable through traditional methods. Evaluation will focus on “Human-AI Synergy,” assessing how human talent leveraged AI as a catalyst for innovation. This category underscores the principle that AI is only as powerful as the creative mind behind it, honoring the human talent that steers these tools to achieve exceptional campaign results.
“In today’s landscape, AI is a collaborative partner unlocking new creative frontiers,” said Prep Palacios, Country Manager of Google Philippines. “We are committed to the standard of transparency: AI is a tool that enhances and honors, rather than replaces, human creativity. With this new category, we want to celebrate the pioneering spirit of brands that use technology to amplify their vision and break production conventions.”
For this year’s YouTube Works Awards program, Deloitte will oversee the methodology and judging process. The final winners will be determined by a distinguished panel of marketing, media, and creative leaders from across Southeast Asia.
To enter the YouTube Works Awards, brands and agencies are invited to submit their entries through the official portal. The deadline for the submission of entries is on April 30, 2026. The eligibility period for submissions covers campaigns run from March 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.
