2026 AICP Awards Tour Kicks off in Los Angeles on July 23rd
The 2026 installment of the AICP Awards Tour kicks off in Los Angeles on July 23rd at the Universal Studios Lot.
Jimmy Smith, Chairman, CEO, CCO of Amusement Park Entertainment, and the 2026 AICP Next Awards Judging Chair will kick things off with a chat with an AI version of himself on craft, creativity and AI. That talk segues into a conversation with Curators from the 2026 AICP Awards, who will provide insights into the winning work, and the state of the industry, creativity, and storytelling. Additional speakers include: Yvette Cobarrubias, Managing Partner/Owner, Cosmo Street Editorial, and an AICP Post Awards Curator; Kerstin Emhoff, CEO, PRETTYBIRD/Ventureland, and an AICP Next Awards Curator; Matt Factor, Founding Partner, SKUNK, and an AICP Show Curator; and JJ Lask, Founding Partner/Editor, PS 260, and an AICP Post Awards Curator. The conversations will be moderated by Matt Miller, President & CEO, AICP.
The evening kicks off with a happy hour- sponsored by Wrapbook, who will offer a toast to creativity - at 6pm, followed by the program and reception. Tickets are available here.
In addition to Los Angeles, the tour will make stops in Dallas (November 5th); Mexico City (November 11th); and Chicago (November 19th).
Sponsors help make all the AICP awards competitions and events possible. AICP Partners and Supporting Partners, who support all AICP events throughout the year, are Cast & Crew Commercials; Musicbed + Filmsupply; Universal Production Services; Wrapbook; Film Hawaii; NEED Financial Services; and Sony Pictures Studios.
The list of 2026 AICP Awards Sponsors Benefactors includes: 1Park9; Apache Digital; Aspen Travel; Audio Spectrum; AwardCore; Be Electric; BIG Digital; Colorlab; Cosmo Street Editorial; Cut+Run; Cutters; Directors Guild of America; Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP; Heard City; IDC; Istros
Media Corporation; JMR Equipment Rentals; Kodak Motion Picture Film; LBBonline – Little Black Book; Optimus; PS260; PSYOP; SDN; SHOOT Magazine/SHOOTonline; shots; and TCS, Inc.
The 2026 AICP Awards Patrons include The Roots Production Services; SAG AFTRA; and Voices.
PSYOP created the graphics and design language for all three competitions, with music and sound design produced by Take Your Medicine. All showreel editing was performed by Cutters.
Established in 1992, The AICP Show is the most important advertising showcase in the U.S. dedicated to excellence in craft. The AICP Post Awards, which debuted in 2001, honors excellence in a wide range of post production crafts and disciplines. And the AICP Next Awards, launched in 2007, highlights the winners of the Next categories, which honor innovative marketing communications. Each show in the AICP Awards Suite is housed in The Museum of Modern Art’s Department of Film’s state of the art archives for future generations to study and are available for use or exhibition by the museum’s curators. And the full archive can be viewed here.
