Submitting your entries for the SPARK Awards is simple and completely online. The entry submission extended deadline is 17 July 2026 (Fri) at 6pm.

To ensure that your entries are submitted successfully and are given the attention they deserve, here are a few items to take note of when preparing your entries.

• Firstly, download and read the Entry Guidelines. This will guide you through the submission process. Follow the instructions and specific category requirements to ensure your entries are submitted successfully.
• Please download and use the Core Submission Template provided to prepare your Entry Submission Document without altering/deleting the words in header, 30% of marks will be deducted otherwise.
• All entries, supporting documents, and required items can be submitted via the “I’m Ready to Enter” link at the bottom of this page.
• Entrants are strongly encouraged to gather all entry materials like photos, videos and charts before starting the entry process.
• Please ensure that all details you enter into the Entry Details are CONSISTENT with the details on the Core Submission Document you upload.
• Upon submission deadline, all entry details, including company names, credits and so on, are FINAL and CANNOT be changed and / or transferred to another party.
• Please include an event photo or image that represents your entry in your submission that can be used on all marketing material, on the screen on the night of the awards, and in the magazine etc.

Once you’re ready to go, all entries can be submitted via the below “I’m Ready to Enter” link.

Friday 17 July 2026, 6:00pm.

Your entry will be evaluated on the following four key areas (please refer to the Entry Guidelines for full descriptions). Be sure to read them carefully to understand the different criteria for the 3 distinct tracks.

Track 1: Media Channels, Platforms & Networks

Challenge & Objective (10%) (Max 500 words)

• What was the core business, audience, or monetisation challenge the brand client brought to you?
• What market or platform constraints existed (e.g., inventory limits, seasonality, brand safety concerns)?
• What was the baseline and the specific KPI targets set for this campaign or partnership?

Media Strategy & Innovation (30%) (Max 500 words)

• What proprietary insight (e.g., first-party audience data, content consumption habits) shaped your approach?
• Why was your specific platform/inventory the perfect environment to deliver this idea?
• What was distinctive about the strategy (e.g., a new format, an innovative distribution model, bespoke product packaging)?

Execution & Integration (30%) (Max 500 words)

• How was the strategy implemented operationally (e.g., timeline, phasing, creative production, on-ground logistics)?
• What were the key tactics, formats, or interactive mechanics used to engage the audience?
• How did you ensure quality and governance (e.g., editorial integrity, data privacy, brand safety)?

Results & Commercial Impact (30%) (Max 500 words)

• What were the measurable outcomes achieved against the initial objectives and baseline?
• Provide concrete evidence of impact (e.g., audience growth, time spent, footfall, brand lift, revenue generated, or specific advertiser KPIs).
• What learnings were gathered, and how will this offering be scaled or improved in the future?

Track 2: Media Strategy & Content

Challenge & Objective (10%) (Max 500 words)

• What was the client’s overarching business and communications challenge?
• What was the competitive context (e.g., share of voice, media inflation, fragmented audiences)?
• What were the specific KPI targets, budget parameters, and timeframes?

Strategic Insight & Planning (30%) (Max 500 words)

• What was the core insight and the “big media idea” that drove the plan?
• How did you define the target audience and map their consumer journey?
• What was the communications architecture (e.g., channel sequencing, omnichannel integration, retargeting logic)?

Execution & Optimisation (30%) (Max 500 words)

• How was the plan delivered in the market (e.g., channel mix, media buys, pacing, tactical roll-out)?
• How did you actively manage and optimise the campaign whilst it was live to maximise efficiency?
• How did you manage partners (publishers, platforms, creators) and ensure measurement integrity and brand safety?

Results & ROI (30%) (Max 500 words)

• What outcomes were delivered against the client’s core KPIs (brand and performance metrics as relevant)?
• Provide verifiable evidence of success (e.g., reach/frequency quality, VTR, conversion rates, CPA, ROAS, or incremental sales).
• What drove the results, and what strategic learnings were passed back to the client?

Track 3: Technology

Challenge & Objective (10%) (Max 500 words)

• What specific campaign, measurement, creative, or operational hurdle required a technological solution (e.g., signal loss, frequency waste, slow optimisation cycles, fragmented reporting, low-quality leads)?
• What was the context and constraint (budget, timeline, channels, privacy/compliance limits, platform restrictions)?
• What were the defined objectives and success KPIs, and what baseline or “business-as-usual” approach would this replace?

Strategic Insight & Planning (30%) (Max 500 words)

• Why was this specific platform, tool, data set, or technical approach chosen over alternatives (build vs buy, platform A vs platform B, first-party vs contextual vs modeled signals)?
• How did the technology choice shape the broader campaign strategy (audience approach, channel mix, sequencing, creative versioning, bidding/optimisation logic)?
• What role did data play (inputs, quality, governance/consent, refresh cadence), and how did it improve decision-making?
• How did the approach account for current industry realities (privacy changes, cookie deprecation, identity constraints, brand safety, fraud, walled-garden measurement)?

Execution & Optimisation (30%) (Max 500 words)

• How was the technology deployed in practice (setup steps, tagging, integrations, workflows, timelines, team roles, governance)?
• How did it integrate with the media buy and/or creative delivery (DSP/ad server/CDP/clean room, dynamic creative, automation rules, deal IDs/PMPs, measurement pipelines)?
• What operational excellence was demonstrated (QA, monitoring, optimisation cadence, troubleshooting, documentation, training/onboarding)?
• What challenges were encountered during deployment (data matching, latency, creative approvals, API limits, reporting inconsistencies), and how were they resolved?

Impact & Business Value (30%) (Max 500 words)

• What tangible business value did this provide to its users during the eligibility period?
• Provide evidence of impact using a specific client case study or aggregated platform data (e.g., workflow efficiency gains, improved match rates, yield uplift, or verifiable ROI).
• How has the adoption or scale of the product grown?

• All works, campaigns or initiatives must have been conceptualised, created and carried out in the Hong Kong market or for a regional and/or global market that includes Hong Kong.
• Work can be created and delivered for a wider regional market but the audience must still include Hong Kong and the featured results should outline the specific achievements from the Hong Kong campaign(s).
• All works, campaigns or initiatives must have been launched or active between the eligibility period of 1 May 2026 – 30 April 2026 with demonstrable results achieved during this period.
• Entrants may submit the same works/campaigns/initiatives into multiple categories or different works/campaigns/initiatives into one category. There is no limit to the number of entries an entrant may submit. However, when submitting multiple entries, entrants must tailor their individual submissions accordingly and outline how they suit the specific category at hand.

Track 1: Media Channels, Platforms & Networks

Who can enter: Media Entities including Media owners, publishers, broadcasters, OOH networks, transit operators, retail media networks, and commerce platforms.

Eligible Media Entities include:

• Traditional and digital publishers (news, lifestyle, niche media)
• Broadcasters (television and radio networks)
• Out-of-Home (OOH) and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) network operators
• Transit and property networks (transport operators, transport hubs, mall operators, property developers)
• Social media platforms, gaming platforms, video streaming services, and audio/podcast networks
• Retail media networks (e.g., supermarkets, pharmacies, physical retail chains, e-retailers)
• Integrated commerce platforms (e.g., super-apps, e-commerce marketplaces, delivery platforms)

Track 2: Media Strategy & Content

Who should enter: Media planning and buying agencies, content agencies, digital/PR agencies, and the in-house creative/strategy studios of media entities.

Eligible entities include:

• The in-house creative/strategy studios of media entities
• Media planning and buying agencies (both network and independent)
• Content creation and creative agencies
• Digital marketing and performance agencies
• PR and communications agencies handling media amplification
• Influencer and talent management agencies

Track 3: Technology

Who should enter: Media owners and agencies. (Tech providers may co-enter with their media/agency partners).

Eligible entities include:

• Media Owners
• Media planning and buying agencies (both network and independent)
• Adtech/Martech solutions provider may co-enter with their media/agency partners

Entry Fee:
HK$2,500 per entry

Payment Methods:
Credit cards, cheques, bank transfers.
– Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Amex.

* All entry fees are non-refundable. Trophy is not included in the entry fees.

• All entry fees are non-refundable.
• Entries will not be considered for judging if payment is not received within five working days upon being invoiced, if invoice is required before payment.
• By submitting the entry, the entrants guarantee that all the works/information submitted are TRUE and ACCURATE. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE reserves the right to verify any information submitted in the entry.
• MARKETING-INTERACTIVE reserves the right to merge categories or dissolve any categories should it be deemed necessary.
• Upon submission deadline, all details on the entry submission form, including company names, credits and so on, are FINAL and CANNOT be changed and/or transferred to another party. Should your entry be shortlisted, details will be presented based on your submissions on the website, prize announcements as well as on trophies and/or any other awards-related materials. Any changes made after submission will be charged 10% of the submission fee.
• Also, please ensure that all details are submitted in ENGLISH only.
• The judges’ decisions are final.
• Lighthouse Independent Media Ltd reserves the right, without prejudice, to remove entries from being judged, should the company submitting their entries have a history of non-payment and payment arrears.
• Please refer to the full terms & conditions in the Entry Guidelines.

• Whilst care will be taken by the organiser, the entrant agrees that MARKETING-INTERACTIVE or Lighthouse Independent Media Ltd. will be exempt from any liability for errors or omissions reproduced, lost and / or corrupted in the presentation of the SPARK Awards or in MARKETING-INTERACTIVE’s media platform, or for work lost or corrupted under any circumstances.
• Any information or content intended for judging purposes only and NOT for republishing must be clearly indicated in red font or highlighted in red. Such information and content will not be shared in any way and privy for judging panel who will also maintain strict confidentiality.
• The entrant otherwise grants MARKETING-INTERACTIVE permission to show material(s) from the entries at the awards presentation, in the magazine and at such times as deemed appropriate.
• Entries done in any other format may not be accepted.
• Any invalid or incomplete submissions will be subject to a penalty deduction of your total score or a chance of disqualification.
• All judges are bound by a non-disclosure agreement covering confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and contact with entrants. To ensure a fair result, judges will not have access to entries submitted by their own organisation or that of their competitors.
• The decisions of MARKETING-INTERACTIVE in all matters relating to The SPARK Awards shall be final and binding.

Ready to take your award entry to the next level? Our dedicated team is here to guide you through every step of the process, from identifying the most suitable category to developing a compelling submission. Schedule a consultation with us today and let us work with you to strengthen your awards strategy, enhance your entry, and position your campaign for success.