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Signature Event

Chicago American Advertising Awards 2025 – Open for entries!

Details coming soon.

Upcoming Event

Entries Due January 24, 2025

Single EntryCampaign Entry
Member$200$225
Non-Member$250$305
Student$45$50

Recognizing and rewarding the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising, the American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest competition, attracting nearly 35,000 entries every year.

Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to win a local Addy Award, which recognizes the very best in their local market. At the second tier, local Addy winners compete with winners from other local clubs in one of 16 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in the Chicago Advertising Federation Award Competition is the first step toward winning a national Award.

Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates like the Chicago Advertising Federation use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, professional development, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education and consumer awareness.

Selection of the most creative entries is conducted through a scoring process in which a panel of judges-comprised of accomplished advertising creative professionals evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. For the CAF competition, the committee selects a diverse slate of judges who are all outside of the Chicago market to eliminate any bias.

Not a Member? If you would like to take advantage of member pricing, click here for membership options.

About the program

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting nearly 35,000 entries every year in local AAF competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

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