AUCKLAND, Today: Contagious has named its 2026 Contagious Pioneers, recognising 11 agencies that have kept clearing one of marketing’s tougher creative bars.
The annual list is based on agency performance on Contagious IQ, the intelligence platform that breaks down standout marketing from around the world.
Contagious says its editorial filter is deliberately tough, with only work showing breakthrough creativity and exceptional strategic thinking making it onto the platform.
The 2026 Contagious Pioneers, in alphabetical order, are:
- David New York
- DDB NZ, Auckland (now known as McCann New Zealand)
- Gut São Paulo
- LePub, Milan
- Leo UK, London
- Marcel Paris
- Mother London
- Ogilvy Singapore
- PS21 Madrid
- Uncommon Creative Studio, London
- VCCP London
“We have no patience for ‘good’ work at Contagious.” – Chloe Markowicz, Contagious Editor
This year’s list includes several first-time winners, including David NY, Leo UK, London, Ogilvy Singapore, DDB NZ, Gut São Paulo, LePub Milan and VCCP London.
It is also the first time an agency from Singapore has been named a Contagious Pioneer, giving the list a nice extra bit of regional history.
The 2026 Pioneers come from across the globe, with work spanning categories from finance to fast food.
In other words, great creative ideas are clearly not fussy about where they turn up.
Chloe Markowicz, Contagious Editor, said, “We have no patience for “good” work at Contagious. We’re only interested in the best: the smartest strategic thinking, the most future-facing innovation and the bravest creativity.
“The work that is featured on Contagious IQ represents the top 1% of marketing excellence and the campaigns from our 2026 Contagious Pioneer agencies is the pinnacle of this content.
“It’s already a tremendous achievement to be featured on Contagious IQ, but to be named a Contagious Pioneer shows that an agency has been repeatedly passed our editorial filter. It’s testament to their consistent creativity and originality and is a true marker of excellence.”
How we calculate the rankings
The rankings are based on how often an agency’s work was featured on Contagious IQ from April 2025 until March 2025.
Each agency’s score is then weighted to account for campaign quality, including whether work was named an Editor’s Pick.
The rankings also consider consistency of output, the ratio of campaigns to clients, and whether campaigns were selected for further in-depth coverage.
How to be considered for the Contagious Pioneers
There is only one way to make the Contagious Pioneers ranking: getting featured on Contagious IQ.
Agencies that believe their work represents the best in creative and strategic thinking can email submit@contagious.com.
If the work is featured and the agency is interviewed for the Insights & Strategy series, it has an even stronger shot at making the rankings.
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