CELEBRATING THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN PR & COMMUNICATIONS

ENTRY DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2026 
EXTENDED DEADLINE: MAY 22, 2026 

Celebrating the Leaders Shaping the Future of PR & Communications 

The PRNEWS People of the Year Awards honor the communicators redefining what leadership in public relations looks like today. From agency innovators and crisis strategists to brand storytellers and rising stars, these honorees represent the talent driving the industry forward. 

Each year, PRNEWS recognizes professionals whose ideas, leadership and results are elevating the role of communications in business, culture and society.

Why Enter?

The PRNEWS People of the Year Awards celebrate the individuals behind the strategies, ideas and leadership shaping today’s communications landscape. Honorees represent agencies, brands, nonprofits and public institutions whose work is advancing the practice of public relations.

Being named a PRNEWS Person of the Year is more than recognition—it highlights the professionals driving innovation, strengthening reputations and elevating the impact of communications across industries.

Categories

    • The Agency CEOs
    • The Agency Innovators
    • The Brand Reputation Mavens
    • The Chief Communicators
    • The Crisis Managers
    • The Data & Insights Strategists
    • The Digital PR Disruptors
    • The Educators
    • The Government & Public Affairs Leaders
    • The Media Relations Titans
    • The Mentors
    • The Nonprofit PR Innovators
    • The Ones to Watch
    • The PR Entrepreneurs & Founders
    • The AI & Innovation Communicators
    • The Employee Communications Champions
    • The Creator & Influencer Innovators

    • JOIN THE RANKS OF THESE PAST WINNERS

    Past honorees include these communications superstars:

    Entry Guidelines

    EARLY DEADLINE
    May 15, 2026

    LATE DEADLINE
    May 22, 2026

    All entries must be submitted by May 22, 2026. Finalists will be notified in August 2026.

    The price of each primary entry is $450. A late fee of $199 will be applied to entries submitted after May 15, 2026. Payment in full must accompany the entry. Entry fees are not refundable.

    Remind Me

    Who Should Enter

    The program recognizes outstanding professionals across every corner of the communications industry, including:

    • Agency leaders and founders
    • In-house communications executives
    • Rising PR professionals and emerging voices
    • Specialists in areas such as media relations, crisis communications, public affairs, internal communications, data and measurement and moreWhether leading global initiatives or transforming communications within a single organization, these individuals are shaping the future of PR.

    What Honorees Receive

    PRNEWS People of the Year honorees receive industry-wide recognition and visibility, including:

    • Recognition across PRNEWS.com and PRNEWS social channels
    • Coverage highlighting their leadership and accomplishments
    • The opportunity to showcase their achievements to the broader communications community
    • Association with one of the PR industry’s most respected honors programs

    Entry Requirements

    People of the Year nominations will require the following:

    JUSTIFICATIONOutline the reason why the individual should be named an honoree.

    ROLE IN ORGANIZATIONPlease provide some details of the individual's role in the organization.

    SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTSPlease explain how your nominee has raised the bar on creativity, strategy and execution for the organization, or how they have gone above and beyond expectations.

    SUPPORTING MATERIALSupporting Materials can include anything that best represents the success of your work. Examples include:

    • Websites
    • ROI Stats
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Materials
    • Testimonials
    • Research
    • Documents
    • Videos
    • Photos

    FAQs

    ENTRY FAQs

    GALA FAQs

    The Gala

    The People of the Year will be spotlighted at the biggest night in PR—the prestigious Platinum Awards Gala! Join hundreds of the industry’s most influential brands and agencies for an unforgettable night to celebrate the Campaigns of the Year, People of the Year and biggest agencies in communications.

    When:
    Tuesday, October 7, 2026
    6:00 - 10:00pm (ET)

    Where:
    Pier Sixty
    Pier 60, 60 Chelsea Piers
    New York, NY 10011

    platinum pr awards

    Sponsorship

    Position your brand at the center of PR’s most influential recognition program. The People of the Year sponsorships provide meaningful exposure to top executives and teams driving innovation across the communications ecosystem—on stage, online, and throughout the awards lifecycle.

    For details and custom packages, contact Vernesa Merdanovic at vmerdanovic@accessintel.com

    Contact Us

    Submission Questions

    For questions regarding entry submissions,
    contact:

    Mary-Lou French
    Manager, Subscriptions and Awards
    mfrench@accessintel.com

    Sponsorship

    For sponsorship inquiries,
    contact:

    Vernesa Merdanovic
    Sales Director, PRNEWS
    vmerdanovic@accessintel.com

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