Brisbane’s creative industry just handed out its biggest trophies, and the winning pattern is impossible to ignore.
VML dominated the 2026 BADC Awards, finishing with 15 medals including three Golds. Its SP Brewery campaign ‘Icon of Change’ took Best of Show, and SP Brewery was named Client of the Year.
A campaign that refused to stay in one lane
‘Icon of Change’ collected six medals across PR Amplification Campaign, Groundbreaking Creativity, Integrated Media Campaign, Creative Use of Media, and TV & VOD.
That cross-category spread is the real story. The judges rewarded a single idea that could travel through earned PR, paid media and long-form film, rather than six separate executions.
VML also took Gold for TerryWhite Chemmart’s Tony Ferguson ‘Meal Replacement Ad Replacement’ in Direct Response/Direct Mail, with further recognition for South Bank Corporation and RACQ work.
Winning patterns marketers can steal
- Effectiveness now carries Gold. Publicis Australia’s Personalised Plates Queensland work won Creative Effectiveness by showing the numbers behind record plate sales.
- AI craft is an award category. BCM Group collected two Golds for ‘Made To Belong’ across AI Craft and Film Craft categories.
- Craft still separates good from great. Alt.vfx earned five Golds across Visual Effects, Animation, Motion Design and Self Promotion.
- Brands can win without a big agency. Containers for Change entered ‘That’s Not Rubbish. It’s Bincoin.’ directly and took three medals.
What the night tells the market
BADC President Remy Brassac said the wins prove Queensland’s talent competes on the national and international stage. He also called for more collaboration as budgets tighten and media fragments. “We need each other. Solidarity creates opportunities,” he said.
The formula behind the night: one ownable idea, executed with craft, and measured with a business result. That’s the standard to beat in 2026.
The new Production Craft Award, named for Vicki Lee, went to Imogen Dick of Taxi Film Production for Supercheap Auto’s ‘Best Performing Oils, Redline Squad’, and Ralph Barnett joined the BADC Hall of Fame.
Source: Campaign Brief
