ENTRY
GUIDELINES/
- Refer to the scoring criteria for each category.
- 1500 is the maximum word count (not the target) and includes wording in graphs and/or infographics.
- Your word count must be shown on the front page of your entry.If you omit to do so or exceed the word limit, you will be deducted points.
- Please give permission to provide a link to your entry on the Star Awards website to be shared after the awards dinner. Alternatively please provide a redacted version if you are shortlisted by 31 May.
- The title of your entry should have a maximum word count of 6.
- Entries should relate to work that was planned, developed, or evaluated in 2025.
- Entries should be from, or entered on behalf of, Scottish based organisations but can relate to activity anywhere in the world.
- You do not have to be a member of The Marketing Society to enter.
- Each case study can be entered in a maximum of TWO categories. Please note this applies across agencies, so if you are working collaboratively, you will need to agree who is submitting and named in the entry.
- Ensure all details on the entry form are completed.
- Entries should be submitted in the form of a PDF document.
- The PDF should be a maximum of 10MB.
- URL links may be included in the field provided on the entry site. Please do NOT embed them directly within your entry.
- A maximum of 2 videos can be included as separate attachments.
- Late entries will be subject to additional charges
Planning Checklist
- Check out the Call for Entries brochure for reference and to help decide which categories you will enter.
- Read through the previous shortlists, judging criteria and case studies. Start pulling together the information, results, and references for your entry.
- Volunteer for judging by end of January 2026 by registering here.
- Please note there is a maximum of 4 judges per organisation permitted to participate as judges.
- Members at Future Leader level are encouraged to score allocated entries online as a useful training and development exercise helping to appreciate how to write award winning case studies.
- Join our virtual Star Awards Showcase event in December for insights and inspiration for writing winning entries.
- Watch our virtual Judges Briefing Session in January for judging guidance.
- Decide which Rising Stars you will nominate – Rising Creative, Rising Agency and Rising Marketing Stars. Nominate on the entry platform by February 12, 2026.
- Nominations for the Champions Category – Inspirational Agency Leader and Inspirational Marketing Leader should be submitted by February 12, 2026. Nominations for these awards can also be recorded as part of a case study entry.
- Make sure you submit your entries by the awards deadline of 23:59 on February 12, 2026. There will be an additional fee for late entries.
- Look out for the announcements of the shortlists in April 2026.
- Book your tickets for the Star Awards Celebration Dinner in Edinburgh on June 18, 2026.
Entry Fees
| Early Bird Rates 2026 UNTIL 31 DEC 2025 |
Standard Rates 2026 FROM 1 JAN – 17 FEB 2026 |
|
| Marketing Society Member | £205.50 | £230.00 |
| Marketing Society Member SME* | £189.50 | £210.00 |
| Non-Member | £243.50 | £270.00 |
| Non-Member SME* | £225.50 | £250.00 |
| Not for Profit Organisations | £189.50 | £210.00 |
*less than 100 employees for client and less than 10 for agency
There is no cost for the schools, students and individual nominations in the Development and Champions Categories.
Extension fees
There will be an additional fee for those seeking an extension to the deadline.
These will be priced as follows:
One-week extension:
Additional £50+VAT (deadline February 19, 2026) per entry
Two-week extension:
Additional £100+VAT (deadline February 26, 2026) per entry
Promotions
First Time Free
If the organisation has never entered the Star Awards, their first entry is free of charge. Please select ‘first time entry’ when submitting your award and it will discount the fee automatically.
Member Benefits
The Marketing Society is a not-for-profit organisation which operates for the benefit of its members. Any surplus made with these awards is reinvested to the benefit of the members in Scotland. Join now to benefit from members entry and ticket rates.
Contact Anna Barber [email protected] for details on membership.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in getting involved as a sponsor please get in touch with Partnership Manager, Pippa Barker [email protected]
Questions
If you have any questions about the entry or judging process or the Awards in general, please get in touch with Lux Events [email protected]
THE STARS ARE CALLING
Make sure you submit your entries by the awards deadline of 23:59 on February 12, 2026.
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