BBDO Chicago helped put Chicago squarely in the global creative spotlight Thursday night at the 2026 Clio Awards, taking home two Grand Clios for its emotionally powerful “The Final Exam” campaign on behalf of Change The Ref.
The campaign earned top honors in both Branded Entertainment & Content and Culture & Influence, standing out among one of the most internationally competitive Clio fields in recent years.
Hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, this year’s ceremony awarded 20 Grand Clios to agencies and creatives from around the world, but Chicago’s presence was impossible to ignore.
“The Final Exam” continues BBDO Chicago’s recent streak of culturally impactful work, using storytelling rooted in emotional realism rather than traditional PSA tactics. The campaign tackled gun violence through the lens of students confronting the terrifying reality of school shootings, creating one of the year’s most talked-about pieces of purpose-driven creative.
And importantly, it didn’t feel like “advertising trying to solve a social issue.” It felt human first.
Beyond BBDO Chicago’s wins, Chicago was also represented by major work from Omnicom Chicago, which picked up multiple Clio honors this season for “Caption with Intention” on behalf of Rakish Entertainment.
Globally, Ogilvy Singapore emerged as one of the night’s dominant forces thanks to its massively awarded “Vaseline Verified” campaign for Vaseline, helping secure both Agency of the Year and Advertiser of the Year honors.
Mexico City’s LePub Mexico City also had a huge night with “Gulf of Mexico (Bar)” for Tecate, while Rethink Canada was named Independent Agency of the Year.
Outside the competition categories, the show honored Mark Ronson and artist Mickalene Thomas with Honorary Clio Awards in recognition of their broader cultural impact.
But for Chicago’s creative community, the headline was BBDO.
In a year when the industry continues to debate the value and future of purpose-driven advertising, “The Final Exam” proved that when emotional storytelling is grounded in authenticity and craft, the work can still genuinely move people rather than simply chase headlines.
Which may be harder than winning the award itself.
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