Work must be created and published between Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025

Entry Deadline: January 23, 2026

Member Entry Fee: $50 per submission
Non-Member Entry Fee: $100 per submission

Student Entry Fee: $25 per submission

Late Entry Window: January 24th–30th
$25 late fee added per entry

Who Should Enter?

Agencies Freelancers, In-house teams, Students, Content creators, designers, marketers, producers, and more. If you made it, wrote it, designed it, animated it, printed it, coded it, or concepted it, you’re eligible to compete.

Why compete as an AAF Member?

Sure, you can compete without joining. But AdLympic champions know the real advantage comes with membership.

Members get the lowest entry rate. Every single submission.

Non-member: $100 each Member: $50 each
If you’re submitting more than one entry, the savings pay for your membership instantly. 

FAQ: Do all team members need to be AAF members to receive the member entry rate?

No. Only one person associated with the entry needs to be an AAF Southern Illinois member in order for the entire submission to qualify for the discounted member rate. Whether you’re submitting as an agency, in-house team, or collaborative project:

One membership = member pricing for all work submitted under that entrant name.

So if your creative team plans to enter multiple pieces, one membership covers them all and the cost savings add up fast.

Award Advancement Path

The Olympic ladder:
Local → District → National American Advertising Awards

Where your entry fees actually go

(And Why They Matter More Than You Think)

Contrary to popular belief, local chapters don’t profit from the American Advertising Awards. In fact, your entry fees keep the entire ecosystem functioning. A portion of every entry must be sent to AAF National to:

• Advance winners to district & national levels
• Cover national judging, logistics, trophies, and promotion
• Maintain category standards, scoring systems, & entry platforms

This is the only way your work gets the chance to compete beyond Southern Illinois. Even a modestly produced awards night gets expensive fast:

• Venue rental 
• Printing (programs, signage, badges)
• Trophies, medals, certificates
• Decor, signage, food and drinks

Without this competition, local AAF chapters often can’t operate at all.

Why Transparency Matters

We’re not a for-profit award show. We’re a small, regional creative organization trying to:

• Celebrate local talent
• Stay nationally connected
• Give students opportunities
• Keep our industry ecosystem alive

Every entry literally keeps us going.

Contact

Questions about the event? Reach out to Amy Dion at adion@siu.edu 

Questions about an entry? Reach out to gannon.mccarty98@gmail.com