The Clio Awards
The Clio Awards, founded in 1959 and headquartered in New York, operates an international awards platform recognizing creative excellence in advertising across six verticals — including the flagship Clio Awards, Clio Sports, Clio Music, Clio Health, Clio Entertainment, and Clio Creators (launching 2026). It serves advertising agencies, brands, and creators through entry fees, ceremonies, and sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Clio Awards does
The Clio Awards operates an international awards and recognition platform for the creative industries, headquartered in New York and operating as Clio Awards LLC, a privately held company founded in 1959. The core product is an annual flagship awards ceremony recognizing excellence in advertising across multiple categories, with Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze statuettes. The portfolio has expanded into a multi-vertical structure with six specialized programs — Clio Sports (launched 2014), Clio Music, Clio Health, Clio Entertainment, and Clio Creators (launching in 2026) — each addressing a distinct creative vertical. Two adjacent media properties extend the platform: Muse by Clios, an editorial content hub producing interviews and thought leadership, and AdsOfTheWorld.com, a global advertising database. The 2026 flagship ceremony was held at Cipriani 25 Broadway in NYC on May 12, 2026.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: per-entry transaction fees for submissions across multi-tier deadline schedules (Clio Awards 2026 ran four deadline tiers from October 2025 through February 2026, with escalating prices), merchandise sales via the Clio Store of duplicate statues and trophies, and event sponsorships including presenting-level deals with Google and PepsiCo. The go-to-market is event-driven: entries are submitted online through a self-serve portal (new-entries.clios.com), physical entries must arrive at the New York office by the final deadline, judging occurs during a jury retreat with industry leaders, and winners are announced at in-person ceremonies. The 2026 Clio Awards season produced 1,142 entries in the winners gallery, with submissions sourced globally from countries including Germany, India, Mexico, France, Singapore, the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Customer segments span advertising agencies (primary), brands and advertisers (primary), and secondary verticals including sports teams/leagues/brands, music-industry players, entertainment companies, healthcare/pharmaceutical brands, and — newly in 2026 — social-media content creators. The customer base is intentionally broad and diversified across industries, with high-profile award recipients in the 2026 cycle including Grindr, Heineken, Vaseline, BBC, Bad Bunny, Tecate, Vi (Vodafone Idea), and Change The Ref. Distribution is delivered through the online entry system, in-person ceremonies, the e-commerce store, an online winners gallery, and strategic partnerships including Kyoorius for Asian regional reach and Influential and YouTube for the new Clio Creators program. The organization is led by CEO Nicole Purcell, operates with 11-50 employees, and shows no evidence of external institutional investment or parent-company ownership.
The Clio Awards firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Clio Awards
- Legal name
- Clio Awards LLC
- Website
- https://clios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Clio Awards, founded in 1959 and headquartered in New York, operates an international awards platform recognizing creative excellence in advertising across six verticals — including the flagship Clio Awards, Clio Sports, Clio Music, Clio Health, Clio Entertainment, and Clio Creators (launching 2026). It serves advertising agencies, brands, and creators through entry fees, ceremonies, and sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Clio Awards industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Awards and Recognition
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Awards Ceremonies & Recognition Events (MPAGAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)
Keywords
Where The Clio Awards is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Clio Awards business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Award Entry Fees: Agencies, brands, and organizations pay entry fees to submit work for consideration across multiple deadlines with increasing prices. Fees vary by deadline tier (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Final deadlines).
- Trophy and Statue Sales: Duplicate statues and trophies are available for purchase through the Clio Store to celebrate winning work.
- Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue generated through ceremony tickets, sponsorships from presenting and supporting sponsors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-tiered entry deadline system |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Clio Awards product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Clio Awards operates an international awards competition for the creative business, accepting paid entry submissions from agencies, brands, and organizations across six program verticals: The Clio Awards (flagship), Clio Sports, Clio Music, Clio Entertainment, Clio Health, and Clio Creators. Entries are evaluated by industry juries and winners are announced at annual ceremonies, with Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards issued. Revenue is generated through tiered entry fees, trophy and statue sales, and event sponsorships.
Product overview
The Clio Awards operates as a comprehensive awards and recognition platform consisting of a core flagship program (The Clio Awards) plus six specialized vertical programs: Clio Sports (founded 2014), Clio Music, Clio Entertainment, Clio Health, and Clio Creators (launching 2026). The portfolio also includes two content/media platforms: Muse by Clios (editorial hub) and Ads of the World (advertising database). The main awards program accepts entries across diverse categories and mediums, with annual ceremonies recognizing Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. Judging involves industry jury panels, and a new Global Talent Rankings initiative (debuting 2026) will highlight top individual contributors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Muse by Clios: A thought leadership platform and content hub featuring interviews, articles, and insights on creativity and advertising.
- Ads of the World
Products and services
- The Clio Awards Flagship annual awards program honoring excellence in advertising, marketing, and communications. Recognizes boundary-pushing work from brands, agencies, and organizations through Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards determined by industry jury panels.
- Clio Sports Specialized awards vertical celebrating creative excellence in sports marketing, advertising, and communications. Champions work from teams, leagues, brands, agencies, and media brands shaping sports culture.
- Clio Music Awards vertical celebrating creative excellence in music marketing, advertising, and communications. Recognizes outstanding work involving music, sound design, and audio branding across various media platforms.
- Clio Entertainment Awards vertical dedicated to celebrating creative excellence in entertainment marketing, advertising, and communications. Recognizes innovative work across entertainment media and content creation.
- Clio Health Awards vertical recognizing creative excellence in health and healthcare marketing, advertising, and communications. Celebrates work that addresses health challenges and promotes wellness across various media.
- Clio Creators New awards ceremony launching in 2026 to honor outstanding sponsored creator content across major social media platforms including Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Launched in partnership with YouTube and creator marketing firm Influential.
- Muse by Clios Editorial content hub providing thought leadership, industry news, interviews, and creative inspiration. Features sections covering trending topics, lifestyle, entertainment, community voices, and profiles of creative professionals.
- Ads of the World Global database of advertising campaigns and creative work, allowing users to explore, search, and discover advertising across industries and regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1142 entries recognized in 2026 Clio Awards season
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Clio Awards
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Clio Awards technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Clio Awards partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and regional.
- YouTubecoreStrategic partner for Clio Creators - a new awards ceremony launching in 2026 to honor outstanding sponsored creator content. YouTube is one of the major social platforms from which submissions will be sourced, with the ceremony planned for the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles in November 2026.
- InfluentialcoreCreator marketing firm partner for Clio Creators program. Influential helps source and evaluate creator content submissions from major social platforms including Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
- GooglecorePresenting Sponsor of The Clio Awards. Google's involvement as presenting sponsor provides significant visibility and credibility for the awards program.
- PepsiCocorePresenting Sponsor of The Clio Awards, supporting the advertising industry's premier recognition program.
- Massive MusicsupportingSupporting Sponsor of The Clio Awards, contributing to the sustainability of the awards program.
- JKR (Jones Knowles Ritchie)supportingCreative Partner providing design and creative consultation for the Clio Awards brand experience.
- Moment FactorysupportingCreative Partner specializing in immersive experiences, contributing to award ceremony and event experiences.
- CampaignsupportingMedia Partner providing editorial coverage and industry exposure for the Clio Awards.
- KyooriusregionalRegional Awards Partner, extending the Clio Awards' reach into the Asian market through the Kyoorius Awards partnership.
- MuseByCliossupportingContent platform partner providing thought leadership and editorial content related to the Clio Awards.
- Ads of the WorldsupportingAdvertising database partner showcasing creative work from around the world as part of the Clio ecosystem.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Clio Awards competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity: The flagship global advertising awards festival, awarding Lions across creative, media, and effectiveness categories. Direct competitor to the flagship Clio Awards for agency and brand entry spend and sponsorship dollars.
- D&AD Awards: UK-based global creative awards program awarding Pencils across design and advertising disciplines. Directly competes with Clio for international creative agency entries and prestige positioning.
- The One Show: North American advertising and creative awards program operated by The One Club for Creativity. Closely comparable to Clio Awards in categories, entry mechanics, and target audience of agencies and brands.
- Effie Awards: Global marketing effectiveness awards program recognizing campaigns that deliver measurable business results. Adjacent competitor to Clio in capturing brand and agency recognition spend.
- London International Awards (LIA): International advertising awards competition awarding statues across creative, digital, and media disciplines. Direct competitor in the global creative awards circuit serving agencies and brands.
- The Webby Awards: Leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the internet across websites, digital advertising, and content. Direct competitor for digital and brand entry fees, with adjacent presence in creator/content verticals.
- Shorty Awards: Awards program recognizing excellence in social media, digital, and creator content. Closely comparable to the newly launched Clio Creators vertical in targeting sponsored creator work.
- New York Festivals Advertising Awards: International advertising awards competition held annually in New York. Direct competitor for agency and brand entry submissions across creative advertising categories.
- ADC Annual Awards (Art Directors Club): One Club for Creativity program recognizing craft and design excellence in advertising and design. Comparable to Clio for agency-level creative entries and industry jury participation.
Regional players
- Kyoorius Creative Awards: India-based regional creative awards program and Clio's regional awards partner. Comparable model (creative awards with jury, entries, and ceremony) operating primarily in the Asian market, partially overlapping with Clio's global reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Clio Awards social profiles
Digital presenceThe Clio Awards financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Clio Awards leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Clio Awards funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Clio Awards M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Clio Awards
What does The Clio Awards do?
The Clio Awards operates an international awards competition for the creative business, accepting paid entry submissions from agencies, brands, and organizations across six program verticals: The Clio Awards (flagship), Clio Sports, Clio Music, Clio Entertainment, Clio Health, and Clio Creators. Entries are evaluated by industry juries and winners are announced at annual ceremonies, with Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards issued. Revenue is generated through tiered entry fees, trophy and statue sales, and event sponsorships.
Is The Clio Awards a public or private company?
The Clio Awards is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Clio Awards founded?
The Clio Awards was founded in 1959. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Clio Awards based?
The Clio Awards is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Clio Awards make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Award Entry Fees are the primary driver. The others are trophy and Statue Sales and event Tickets and Sponsorships.
Who are The Clio Awards's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, D&AD Awards, The One Show, Effie Awards, London International Awards (LIA), The Webby Awards, Shorty Awards, New York Festivals Advertising Awards and ADC Annual Awards (Art Directors Club). Kyoorius Creative Awards is listed as a regional player.
Does The Clio Awards have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Clio Awards.
What industry is The Clio Awards in?
The Clio Awards's product category is Industry Awards and Recognition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAHAF, Awards Ceremonies & Recognition Events, with a secondary code of EDADAFAC, Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas). Its SIC code is 7311.