SocialDay has officially launched the Social Media Marketing Awards USA, a new awards programme recognising excellence in social media marketing across agencies, in-house teams, brands and individuals.
The awards are free to enter, globally open, and focused on one thing only: recognising work that delivers real business impact through social media.
The first US awards ceremony will take place in New York City in November 2026, marking a major expansion of the SocialDay ecosystem beyond the UK.
A new benchmark for social media marketing excellence
The Social Media Marketing Awards USA have been designed to reflect how social media marketing actually works today.
Rather than rewarding popularity, budget size or vanity metrics, the awards focus on:
- Clear strategy
- Strong execution
- Measurable outcomes
- Demonstrable business impact
Entries are assessed by an independent judging panel using structured criteria, with an emphasis on evidence, results and context.
Entry is completely free, removing cost barriers that often prevent great work from being recognised.
Who the awards are for
The programme is open to social media professionals working anywhere in the world, across a wide range of roles and organisations.
This includes:
- Social media agencies of all sizes
- In-house social media teams
- Brands running internal or integrated campaigns
- Freelancers and independent consultants
- Individuals at different stages of their careers
The categories are designed to reflect the full breadth of modern social media marketing, from agency and team excellence to campaign innovation and individual achievement.
Categories focused on impact, not hype
The awards include categories across three core areas.
Agency and team excellence
Recognising agencies and in-house teams demonstrating sustained performance, strong client or business results, and effective team structures at different scales.
Campaign excellence
Rewarding social media campaigns that show clear objectives, smart platform use and measurable outcomes, whether paid, organic, influencer-led or integrated.
Individual excellence
Celebrating the people behind the work, including senior practitioners, emerging talent and freelance professionals delivering outstanding results.
Each category has been created to allow like-for-like comparison, ensuring fairness across organisation size, sector and budget.
A transparent and rigorous process
Entries are submitted through a structured form designed to support fair judging and meaningful industry insight.
Entrants are asked to provide:
- Objectives and strategy
- Platforms used and rationale
- Campaign or team context
- Key metrics and outcomes
- Evidence of business impact
Optional industry insight questions are included to help SocialDay build anonymised benchmarks and reports, but these responses do not influence judging.
Individual entry data is never shared without consent.
Key dates for the 2026 programme
- Nominations open: Now
- Entry deadline: June 30, 2026
- Shortlist announced: July 2026
- Judging period: September to October 2026
- Awards ceremony: November 2026, New York City
From London to New York
The US awards build on the success of SocialDay's Social Media Marketing Awards London edition, which has become a recognised fixture in the UK social media calendar.
The New York programme brings the same focus on credibility, community and impact to the US market, while remaining globally inclusive.
Attending winners will receive a trophy and certificate, with recognition designed to support professional credibility, team pride and industry visibility.
Part of the SocialDay ecosystem
The Social Media Marketing Awards USA are produced by SocialDay, the global intelligence hub for social media professionals.
Alongside:
- SocialDay The Sauce, the social media marketing industry insight platform
- Social Media Marketing Festival
- The Social Media Marketing Awards UK edition
the US awards form part of a growing ecosystem designed to support, connect and recognise the social media industry year-round.
Why this matters
Social media marketing is now one of the most influential drivers of brand growth, reputation and revenue. Yet much of the work behind it remains under-recognised.
The Social Media Marketing Awards USA exist to change that by spotlighting work that matters, judged on merit, not marketing budgets.
Entries for the 2026 programme are now open and free to submit.