Great news! The submission deadline for the Ovation Awards has been extended to February 6 at 11:59 p.m., giving entrants an additional week to submit their work.
From shaking off the holidays, resetting budget cycles, typing “Happy New Year” more times than you’d like, and shovelling all that snow, it’s been an exceptionally busy start to the year.
The previous extended deadline of January 30 may have felt too soon for the communications and PR experts to truly reflect their best work. This extension provides the time needed to submit with confidence and without compromise.
We mean it when we say: write once, submit twice
If you have already prepared an entry for the IABC Gold Quill Awards deadline on February 1, that same entry can also be used for Ovation — making this a timely and efficient opportunity to gain additional recognition.
Have questions about how your entries will be evaluated? Here are the quick facts:
- Each Ovation entry is reviewed by a minimum of two judges using the IABC Gold Quill criteria and the Seven-Point Global Scale of Excellence. Entries are evaluated against established standards, not against one another.
- Judges first assess entries independently, then meet to review scores collectively and in detail.
- Final scores are agreed upon collaboratively, and all entries receive constructive feedback to support learning and improvement.
“Can I submit work that wasn’t done last year?”
Yes! You may enter:
- Eligible work that was implemented, published, or broadcasted between January 2023 and the date of submission.
- Long-term strategies developed prior to 2023, provided they have not been submitted before
- Projects that have been submitted in 2024 or 2025 that did not win, as long as they have incorporated feedback given by the assigned judge.
Please note: work that has previously won an Ovation Award may not be resubmitted.
An event worth submitting for
Looking ahead, the 2025 Ovation Awards Gala will take place May 7 at The Carlu, returning to a fully in-person celebration. The evening will include a pre-dinner cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner, and the awards presentation.
Ticket and event details coming soon.
If you have questions about submissions, eligibility, or the judging process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to support you and look forward to celebrating your work.