HERO Named Australia’s Best Marketing & Advertising Firm of the Year - 2026 - In The Global 100 Rankings

HERO has been named Australia's Top Creative Agency in the 2026 Global 100 Rankings, adding The Global 100 Best Marketing & Advertising Firm of the Year for 2026 to its long list of local and global accolades. The win caps off a big month of recognition for the agency’s work and wins. Over the past year, HERO was also top-ranked Australian independent and top-ranked Australian agency overall the New York Festivals to the WINA (World Independent Advertising Awards), plus Agency of the Year accolades in Campaign Brief, AdNews, B&T and named TrinityP3 best new client performer.

Over the past weeks, HERO was recognised at the AdNews Agency of the Year Awards, for both Independent Agency of the Year, as well as for both Mastercard Transit Tales and Fujifilm Mindography in the new Best Use of AI and Technology category. This is arguably now of the most important categories in this AdNews Agency of the Year competition. This follows a brilliant couple of weeks for HERO, from being named once again in both the Campaign Brief 2026 Hot List Top 10 and Top 5 Australian independents, to the coverage of HERO’s globally recognised Crown Resorts Australian Open campaign featuring Carlos Alcaraz, to being named Trinity P3’s top Australian creative agency for best new client performance.

Over the past 12 months, HERO has also been both the top-ranked Australian independent and also the top-ranked Australian agency overall everywhere from the New York Festivals to the WINA (World Independent Advertising Awards), where HERO is the only Australian agency in history to ever make the WINA global top 10 (HERO was ranked 6th top global independent overall last year).

Since the agency’s launch in 2020, HERO also been named the #1 Independent Australian Agency at both the APAC and Australian Effies and this is no accident. After all, creativity is the hero of effectiveness, it’s how the agency stays true to its purpose “We Turn Brands Into HEROES”.

The past twelve months have marked a definitive era of local dominance and international expansion for HERO, solidifying its reputation as Australia’s premier independent creative force. This period of peak performance reached a crescendo in early 2026 when the agency was named Australia’s Best Marketing and Advertising Firm of the Year in the Global 100 Rankings. This prestigious title followed a consistent streak of being ranked as the number one business winner by TrinityP3 and B&T, as well as being crowned Australia’s Top Indie creative agency by Campaign Brief. The agency’s strategic trajectory has been defined by its ability to outperform multinational networks, a feat further evidenced by its 6th place ranking on the 2025 Campaign Brief Hot List and its historic achievement at the Global WINA Festival, where it became the first Australian agency in the event's ten-year history to break into the global top ten winners.

At the heart of HERO’s success is a portfolio of work that seamlessly bridges the gap between high-stakes public safety and cutting-edge commercial innovation. The agency’s creative output has been anchored by significant campaigns such as "One Ember Can End It" for the NSW Rural Fire Service, a stark and vital reminder of the power of bushfire prevention. In the commercial sector, the agency successfully launched the rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris "Nice To Know It Could" campaign, fueled by the energy of Amyl and the Sniffers. This ability to deliver high-impact, culturally relevant work has seen HERO consistently recognized at the industry’s most prestigious awards ceremonies, including another "heroic" night at the 2025 Mumbrella Awards and a double-trophy win at Spikes Asia for both Toyota and Fujifilm.

HERO has also positioned itself at the absolute vanguard of the industry's technological shift, topping the AdNews Agency of the Year shortlist for AI, Technology, and Innovation. This technical prowess was most visible in the globally acclaimed "Mindography" campaign for Fujifilm Instax, which secured major accolades at the Cannes Lions for Digital Craft and earned a Silver for AI Storytelling at Spikes Asia. By combining AI with human emotion, the agency also collaborated with Mastercard on "Transit Tales," proving that modern technology can be harnessed for storytelling that resonates on a personal level. These projects highlight HERO's unique ability to merge data-driven innovation with the "brave thinking" that the agency prides itself on.

The agency’s leadership and industry influence have been equally instrumental in its record-breaking year. Founder Ben Lilley has taken on significant global roles, serving as the 2025 Jury Chair for the WINA Global Festival in Ibiza and representing Australia on the London International Awards (LIA) Integration and Direct Jury. His journey from an aspiring actor to a powerhouse agency founder was recently profiled in the B&T Fast 10 series, illustrating the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the HERO brand. This high-level representation ensures that the agency remains at the center of global creative discourse while maintaining its roots as a fiercely independent Australian entity.

Internally, HERO has continued to attract and elevate top-tier talent, ensuring its creative engine remains world-class. The appointment of Bec McCall as Group Creative Director in Brisbane has already begun to shake up the local scene, bringing an award-winning knack for building inclusive, high-performance cultures. The agency also celebrated the selection of Bec, Susan, and Katelyn for Campaign Brief’s Creative Circle, recognizing their insightful perspectives on the industry’s most impactful work. This focus on "HERO’s Heroes" ensures that the agency's success is built on a foundation of diverse, passionate, and empowered creative voices.

Even the physical environment of the agency has garnered praise, reflecting its commitment to excellence in every facet of its operation. HERO House, the agency’s Melbourne headquarters, was shortlisted once again for workplace design in the INDE.Awards 2024, emphasizing that the firm provides an inspiring space for its teams to collaborate and innovate. From the design of its offices to the global reach of its digital craft, the past year has shown HERO to be an agency operating at the height of its powers. Collectively, these achievements illustrate a business that has successfully blended creative audacity with a rigorous pursuit of commercial and social impact, setting a formidable benchmark for the year ahead.