HMC announces 2026 Strategic Excellence Awards shortlist as program marks 20-year milestone

The Hispanic Marketing Council (HMC) announced the short list for the 2026 Strategic Excellence Awards Powered by Collage Group, the industry’s only competition honoring strategic excellence in Hispanic and multicultural marketing. Now celebrating its 20th year, the awards recognize breakthrough cultural insights, superior strategic thinking and effectiveness in engaging Latino audiences and driving business growth.

Representing 35 breakthrough campaigns rooted in cultural insight, strategic rigor and creative excellence, 21 companies will vie for bronze, silver and gold honors. Winners will be announced at the HMC 2026 Annual Summit on April 23 in New York City, where the Grand Prix/Best in Show winner will also be revealed.

“The Strategic Excellence Awards celebrate culturally fluent marketing communications that activate cultural insights towards exponential growth and innovation,” said Awards Chair Victor Paredes, Executive Director of Multicultural Strategy, Collage Group. “The campaigns on this year’s shortlist prove the power of Hispanic consumers as an impactful and imperative source of growth and ingenuity. This is the work that moves markets, builds brands, and sets the standard for our industry.”

This year, HMC has partnered with FIAP (Festival Iberoamericano de Creatividad) to further amplify and showcase U.S. Hispanic marketing excellence. All participating Strategic Excellence Awards winners will automatically shortlist at the FIAP festival, representing the United States Hispanic market on an international stage and further elevating the global visibility of culturally fluent marketing developed in the U.S.