The Premier Media Effectiveness Awards
2026 DV Pinnacle® Awards
DV recognizes brands and agencies that achieve exceptional results through the innovative application of our solutions and products.
Launched in the U.K. in 2025 and expanding globally in 2026, our industry-first recognition program celebrates the go-getters who combine bold strategy with DV's unified platform to verify, optimize and prove measurable business results.
2026 Important Dates
Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific
June – July
Submissions window
September
Finalists notified
October onward
Winners announced
Benefits to Winners
- Validation from senior industry leaders and peers
- Positioning as a media effectiveness pioneer
- Visibility through earned PR coverage in top-tier publications
- Connection to industry VIPs, judges and fellow award winners
- Growth through an elevated personal and professional profile
2026 Categories
Social
Driving Performance and Protection at Scale
Recognizes standout executions that prove you don’t have to choose between performance and protection. Winners demonstrate how DV social offerings, including DV Authentic AdVantage™, DV Social Pre-Bid Controls, post-bid measurement and DV Authentic Attention®, deliver stronger outcomes while maintaining brand suitability across social platforms.
Demonstrates at least one:
- Strategic implementation of social verification solutions
- Measurable performance improvements and brand protection
- Innovative approach to navigating social platform
- Clear business outcomes and ROI
AI
Turning Optimization Into Outcomes
Recognizes advertisers who turn AI into a performance advantage. Winners demonstrate how DV Scibids AI™ transforms data into measurable outcomes, driving efficiency and ROI through intelligent automation, granular customization and control.
Demonstrates at least one:
- Strategic use of DV Scibids AI™ for campaign optimization
- Data-driven decision-making and performance gains
- Measurable business impact and efficiency improvements
- Innovative application of AI technology
AI
Protecting Brand Equity in the Age of AI
Recognizes advertisers who take control in an AI-driven ecosystem. Winners demonstrate how DV offerings, including AI SlopStopper™, MFA pre-bid avoidance and fraud protection, reduce exposure to low-quality, AI-generated content and invalid traffic while improving media effectiveness at scale.
Demonstrates at least one:
- Proactive brand protection strategies
- Effective use of DV AI verification solutions
- Measurable reduction in brand suitability incidents
- Strategic approach to quality content environments
Streaming TV
Navigating the Streaming TV and CTV Landscape
Recognizes advertisers who bring clarity to a complex, premium ecosystem. Winners show how DV Authentic Streaming TV™, automated Do Not Air lists or DV Verified Streaming TV™ segments increase transparency, enhance media quality and drive stronger outcomes across streaming TV and CTV environments.
Demonstrates at least one:
- Strategic deployment of DV solutions
- Performance optimization
- Clear measurement of campaign effectiveness
- Innovation in streaming TV campaign execution
Judges and Evaluation Criteria
An independent panel of senior representatives from leading agencies, brands and industry organizations ensures credible, unbiased recognition.
Each activation will be evaluated for its strategic approach and innovation, measurable business outcomes and impact, effective use of DV solutions, quality of execution and collaboration.
Activation details will remain confidential without express written consent of the advertiser.
Submission Guidelines
The DV Pinnacle Awards is open to agencies and advertisers that have achieved exceptional results by using DV solutions. Teams may nominate their own work or be nominated by their DV representative.
Activations must have taken place in whole or in part after January 1, 2025.
To complete the entry form, provide background on the activation context and objectives and the DV solutions implemented, including measurable results.
By submitting, entrants understand and agree that:
- The submission will be reviewed by an independent panel.
- Submission details will remain confidential unless entrant provides written consent.
