3AF Announces 2026 Excellence Awards Winners Honoring Leaders in Asian American Marketing and Advertising NEW YORK, NY — September 18, 2026 — The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF.org) announced last night the winners of the 3AF 2026 Excellence Awards. The competition recognizes outstanding marketers, agencies, industry partners, and brands for their leadership, creativity and impact in reaching and engaging Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) audiences. The winners were revealed during the 3AF Excellence Awards Dinner, held in New York City as part of the 3AF 2026 Asian Marketing Summit, the largest national conference focusing on the power of the Asian American consumer. The annual awards celebrate marketing and advertising work that demonstrates cultural relevance, strategic excellence, authentic storytelling, meaningful audience connection, and measurable results. 3AF 2026 Excellence Award Winners 3AF Hall of Marketing Legends Award Recognizes an individual who has been instrumental in 3AF’s success and/or who has dedicated their professional lives to pursuing excellence in Asian marketing and Asian advertising. Winner: Bill Imada, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group, Inc. 3AF Media Strategy of the Year Recognizes outstanding strategy, execution and results across earned, owned and paid media targeting AAPI audiences, including the effective use of audience insights, innovative marketing practices and measurable business or brand impact. Winner: Intertrend for Toyota bZ Campaign: “Impress with New bZ” 3AF Experiential Marketing & Activation Award Recognizes outstanding experiential advertising and marketing that creates immersive, engaging and memorable brand experiences through live events, interactive environments, activations, digital integrations or hybrid experiences. Winner: Intertrend for China Airlines Campaign: “Step into the Clouds” 3AF PR / Influencer / Social Campaign of the Year Celebrates an influencer, creator and/or social media campaign that demonstrates culturally relevant, innovative, and impactful engagement with AAPI audiences, backed by authentic connections, creative execution and measurable impact. Winner: Ethnicity Matters for Mattel Campaign: ‘Uno, Lights and Laughs” 3AF Industry Partner of the Year Recognizes an industry partner whose expertise, collaboration and innovation have helped advance strategies and campaigns targeting AAPI audiences or contributed to the growth of the AAPI advertising industry. Winners: Multicultural Marketing Resources and The Association of National Advertisers 3AF Campaign of the Year: Bronze (third place); Silver (second place); and Gold (first place) Honors creative excellence in campaigns that engage AAPI audiences through bold ideas, strategic insight, authentic storytelling and meaningful audience engagement. Winning work demonstrates excellence in creative concepts, cultural relevance, execution, innovation, community connection and measurable results. Bronze Winner: iTalk BB Media for Toyota bZ Campaign: “The Key of Memory- Micro Drama” Silver Winner: Plan C for Procter & Gamble Campaign: “Get Ready for Diwali” Gold Winner: Intertrend for the California Lottery Campaign: “Dancing Ahjussi” Celebrating the Work That Moves the Industry Forward The 3AF 2026 Excellence Awards reflect 3AF’s commitment to recognizing organizations and individuals that are helping shape the future of Asian American marketing and advertising. This year’s competition featured categories spanning media strategy, integrated campaigns, experiential marketing, social and influencer work, industry partnerships and brand investment. Entries were evaluated according to established category-specific criteria and a formal scoring rubric by experienced executives from the advertising, media and marketing communities, including professionals with specific expertise in the Asian American consumer and multicultural segments. Genny Hom-Franzen, 3AF Executive Director, said, “Congratulations to all the marketers working to realize and elevate the Asian American consumer audience opportunity. In a challenging marketing environment, we applaud the effort and the courage to invest. In this year’s judging, we valued work that was committed to a particular community and voice, layered insight over generic representation, and delivered measurable results.” About 3AF The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) is dedicated to advancing the Asian American advertising and marketing industry and increasing understanding of Asian American consumers. Through research, insights, education, professional development, networking and industry recognition, 3AF helps marketers and organizations build more meaningful connections with AAPI audiences. The 3AF Excellence Awards are among the organization’s signature programs, spotlighting work that demonstrates strategic thinking, creative excellence, cultural relevance, innovation, community connection and measurable impact. For more information about 3AF, its annual summit, and programs, visit www.3AF.org. ##### For More Information Contact: info@3af.org | 
