In a night where ideas met impact and creativity proved its commercial might, the 25th edition of the Effie India Awards delivered both celebration and surprise. The country’s sharpest marketing minds gathered on 13 February 2026 at Taj Lands’ End, as the industry honored campaigns that didn’t just win hearts – but delivered measurable business results. Hosted by The Advertising Club (TAC), the Silver Jubilee edition marked a defining milestone for effectiveness-driven marketing in India.

Taking centre stage was Nestlé India, crowned Effie Client of the Year for its unwavering focus on strategic brand building and tangible growth. The win highlighted the FMCG giant’s ability to fuse consumer insight with innovation, setting a high benchmark for marketing excellence.

On the agency leaderboard, Leo India (Leo Burnett) emerged as Effie Agency of the Year, a testament to its powerful storytelling backed by real-world results. McCann Gurugram secured second place, while The Womb claimed third, underscoring the fierce competition among India’s top creative agencies.

The prestigious Grand Effie was awarded to McCann Gurugram for its standout campaign, “Maggi: Why save the best for the last?” – a culturally resonant narrative that translated seamlessly into business success.

With participation from 89 agencies and rigorous evaluation by industry leaders and academic experts, the 25th Effie India Awards reinforced their status as the gold standard in marketing effectiveness, even as established names like Ogilvy and MullenLowe Lintas Group were absent from the top ranks this year.