Announcing the 2026 Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards Finalists: APAC & Japan

Today, we're proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards across APAC and Japan. This year's finalists represent some of the region's most innovative agencies, partners and industry leaders, demonstrating how AI-powered advertising, data innovation and omnichannel marketing can drive meaningful business impact for customers. Following one of our most competitive nomination cycles to date, more than 80 finalists across seven award categories in Australia, New Zealand, India and Singapore and six award categories in Japan have been recognized for the creativity, innovation and customer impact they have delivered over the past year. Together, they represent the ambition, collaboration and forward-thinking ideas that continue to raise the bar across our partner ecosystem.

APAC & Japan Finalists Announcement

AI Innovation Award

Recognizes a partner and their client that have used Microsoft-powered AI—including generative AI, intelligent agents, Copilot, and the Microsoft Advertising platform—to drive innovation across creative development, customer experience, and campaign performance.

• Conversios - India
• CyberAgent, Inc. - Japan
• FeedOps - Australia
• Quartet Communications, Inc., Inc. - Japan
• Simprosys InfoMedia - India
• Sparro by Brainlabs + Temple & Webster - Australia
• Ultimedia E-solutions Pvt. Ltd + Nilkamal Furniture – India
• WPP Media + Suncorp - Australia
• Zenith Media - Australia

Data Innovation Excellence Award

Awarded to a partner that delivers creative, scalable solutions using data and signals to drive successful campaign outcomes. Winning partners will demonstrate how they leverage advanced data integration—including coding to the Microsoft Advertising stack of APIs and use of Clean Rooms—to connect campaign execution with real‑time enterprise data, enabling more intelligent automation, decision‑making, and performance optimization.

• Adpulse - Australia
• Conversios - India
• CyberAgent, Inc. - Japan
• FeedOps - Australia
• Simprosys InfoMedia - India

Emerging Markets Growth Award

Awarded to an Agency or Channel Partner and their client based in an emerging market, that has demonstrated outstanding partnership with Microsoft Advertising over the past year. Excellence in partnership is evaluated through the lens of engagement, collaboration and revenue growth using Microsoft Advertising solutions.

• #ARM Worldwide + Niva Bupa and Bajaj Finserv - India
• Dentsu India + American Express - India
• Havas Media Asia Pacific + Mediacorp - The Wonder Shop - Singapore
• LS Digital + ACKO General Insurance and Tata AIG - India
• LS Digital + SBI Life - India
• WPP Media + Vivo - India
• Performics India + HDFC Ergo General Insurance - India
• PHD Singapore + Scoot Airlines - Singapore
• Simprosys InfoMedia + The Ayurveda Experience - India
• WPP Media + IKEA India + GRT + Airbnb India - India

Omnichannel Performance Partner of the Year

Recognizes a partner and their client that has delivered measurable business outcomes through integrated campaigns spanning Search, Audience, Video, and Gaming. Winning partners must demonstrate how execution and AI-driven optimization across multiple Microsoft Advertising solutions drives performance across the consumer journey from discovery to decision.

• ADEX Digital Co., Ltd. - Japan
• Conversios - India
• CyberAgent, Inc. - Japan
• Dentsu Digital Inc. - Japan
• Hakuhodo DY ONE Inc. - Japan
• LocaliQ Australia & New Zealand + Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) – Australia & New Zealand
• OMD + Singapore Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) - Singapore
• Online Marketing Gurus + Psychwire - Australia
• Simprosys InfoMedia + Falkenstein - India
• Simprosys InfoMedia + The Park Wholesale - India
• Sparro by Brainlabs + Temple & Webster - Australia
• Stagwell APAC + Lenovo APAC - Singapore
• transcosmos inc. – Japan
• Vantage Management,inc. - Japan
• Zenith Media – Australia

Rising Partner of the Year

Celebrates a Select tier partner that has achieved sustained business growth with Microsoft Advertising by driving measurable performance outcomes across revenue expansion, feature adoption, and successful client onboarding and retention.

• Conversios - India
• Funai Consulting Incorporated- Japan
• LS Digital - India

Search Performance Partner of the Year

Recognizes a partner and their client that has demonstrated exceptional ability to create, capture, and convert intent and consumer demand through AI-driven optimization and innovative use of Microsoft Advertising Search solutions. Winning partners will showcase strategies that enable brands to show up in critical intent moments across the consumer decision journey, delivering measurable performance and ROI, including examples of how AI is used to identify and unlock new intent categories.

• ADEX Digital Co.,Ltd. - Japan
• Customedia + 1Cover Travel Insurance - Australia
• CyberAgent, Inc. - Japan
• Dentsu Digital Inc. - Japan
• Hakuhodo DY ONE Inc. - Japan
• KINESSO - Australia
• LS Digital + ACKO General Insurance and TATA AIG - India
• LS Digital + Tally Solutions - India
• MindShare + GIO - Australia
• Online Marketing Gurus + Gift Card Store - Australia
• OPT, Inc. - Japan
• Quartet Communications, Inc. - Japan
• Sparro by Brainlabs + Temple & Webster - Australia
• Spark Foundry Australia + HCF - Australia
• Simprosys InfoMedia + Blackout Coffee - India
• Wavemaker Australia & New Zealand + Allianz - Australia

Trailblazer of the Year

Recognizes an individual who leads the way in championing Microsoft Advertising by creatively evangelizing its value, inspiring internal teams, and shaping industry perception through thought leadership and influence while driving AI adoption and acting as a Copilot champion to unlock new levels of performance and innovation.

• Amit P. Jivani - Simprosys InfoMedia - India
• Aneeqa Munir - Zenith Media Australia - Australia
• Annie (Yujin) Wang - Wavemaker Australia & New Zealand - Australia
• Elvira Titan - KINESSO - Australia
• Ervin Poernama - Sparro by Brainlabs - Australia
• Kathy Leung - Starcom Australia - Australia
• Kellyn Coetzee - Zenith Media Australia - Australia
• Mari Iwase - Ayudante, Inc. - Japan
• Kenji Kurokawa - Quartet Communications, Inc., Inc. - Japan
• Nguyen Le - Online Marketing Gurus - Australia
• Renee Rixon - Hearts & Science Australia - Australia
• Tharani Karunaratne – MindShare - Australia
• Yuki Mihira - Hakuhodo DY ONE Inc. - Japan

Congratulations to all our finalists. We look forward to celebrating your achievements and announcing this year's winners in the months ahead.

The countdown to awards night begins

The Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards are about more than recognizing great work. They are an opportunity to bring together the people, partnerships and ideas shaping the future of advertising.

This year, our partner community will come together in Sydney on October 22, New York on October 29, Tokyo on November 5 and London on November 12 to celebrate a year of bold thinking, breakthrough work and meaningful partnership that have defined the past year, while recognizing the partners helping drive the industry forward. Alongside the announcement of winners across this year's award categories, we'll also unveil the recipients of our most prestigious honors - Agency Partner of the Year, Independent Agency Partner of the Year, and Channel Partner of the Year - awarded to partners who have set the benchmark for excellence across submissions.

For our APAC celebration, we'll gather at Baron's, one of Sydney's most exciting new hospitality destinations from the acclaimed Swillhouse group. Set in the heart of Sydney Harbour, Baron's is built around a philosophy of old-world hospitality, creating unforgettable experiences through exceptional service, atmosphere and attention to detail. It's a fitting setting for a night dedicated to celebrating the partnerships that have helped drive growth, innovation and customer impact across the region. Guests can look forward to an evening of celebration, connection and memorable moments from the hospitality team behind some of Sydney's most iconic venues, including Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn, Le Foote and The Caterpillar Club.

In Tokyo, we'll celebrate at The Peninsula Tokyo, one of Japan's most distinguished luxury hotels. Overlooking the Imperial Palace and moments from the vibrant Ginza district, the Forbes Five-Star property is renowned for its legendary service, world-class dining and timeless elegance. Recognized by the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, The Peninsula Tokyo provides an extraordinary backdrop as we celebrate the innovation, excellence and impact of Japan's advertising community.

Save-the-date invitations and event details will be shared soon. We can't wait to celebrate with you.

Finalist Badge Request

To request a badge graphic to announce your status reach out to your Microsoft Advertising representative or email msapartnerawards@microsoft.com.

Great work doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when bold ideas, trusted partnerships and a relentless focus on customer success come together.

To all our finalists across APAC and Japan, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. Your work represents some of the most innovative campaigns, solutions and collaborations across our partner community, and we're excited to celebrate your achievements in the months ahead.

We look forward to welcoming finalists, partners, customers and industry leaders to Sydney and Tokyo, where we'll reveal this year's winners and recognize the people, partnerships and ideas helping shape the future of advertising. For more on our finalists from other regions, please visit our North America and EMEA regional blogs.

Thank you to every partner who submitted a nomination. We'll see you at the awards.