Interested in being part of the ESA Awards?
To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities, please email opportunity@sponsorship.org to start a discussion.
A project may be entered into more than one category, but a separate entry form must be prepared and tailored to suit the specific category selected.
Please refer to the Rules of Entry for further details.
2021 #ESAawards Special Categories
• Best Ethical Response to COVID-19 (this category is FREE TO ENTER)
A new category designed to showcase the best of the sponsorship community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The entry will demonstrate how an agency, brand, rights holder or supplier adapted to adversity with a strong ethical response, making a positive impact and contributing to a cause, or devoting time and resources, towards the common good. FREE TO ENTER
• Rights Holder of the Year
Celebrating the Rights Holder that has gone out of their way to support sponsoring brands, offering innovative solutions and opportunities, and hitting targets. The RH may be a charity, sport, music festival, artist or athlete
• ESA Best of Europe (entry by invitation only)
Across Europe, each national sponsorship agency puts forward their sponsorship of the year. Bronze, Silver and Gold are awarded to the best of the best with entry by invitation only
• ESA Sponsorship of the Year (entry by invitation only)
The winner from each main award category (below) is rejudged by the panel and one campaign is crowned ‘ESA Sponsorship of the Year’
2021 #ESAawards Main Categories
Sector-focused awards
• Arts and Culture Sponsorship
An award specifically focused on the arts and culture sector – for a campaign, activation or holistic partnership
• Esports Sponsorship
Focusing on outstanding campaigns and sponsorships in esports
• Media Sponsorship
Best media partnership or sponsorship across any online or offline media channel e.g. broadcast, cinema, magazine, press, radio and TV partnerships
• Music Sponsorship
The best sponsorship at a music event or festival – for an activation or holistic partnership
• Purpose-led Sponsorship
The best purpose-led partnership or sponsorship that celebrates all forms of diversity, inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility – from charitable partnerships, to women in sport, diversity, and sustainability
• Sport Sponsorship
Awarding the brand that has demonstrated a successful sponsorship in sport.
Discipline-focused awards
• Best Employee Engagement
The best activation of a sponsorship through a campaign targeted at engaging employees – utilising internal comms, activations or activities
• Best Newcomer
Recognising a brand new to sponsorship or that hasn’t been active in sponsorship in the last 2 years
• Best Use of Branded Content
Celebrating the most effective use of branded content in a sponsorship campaign
• Best Use of Digital Channels (inc Social Media)
Best overall digital campaign – reflecting excellent overall use of digital as a platform (e.g. use of website, content, and social media) linked to a sponsorship or event
• Best Use of Insights
The best example of actionable use of data/ insights/ analytics, demonstrating intelligent use of quantitative or qualitative insights, and how this has positively impacted decision-making in commercial partnerships or sports and entertainment campaigns
• Best Use of PR
The best example of how PR has been used as part of a sponsorship campaign, or in a tactical way to activate around a sport and music event/ moment/ news story, driving measurable ROO (rather than solely focusing on media value or reach)
• Best Use of Talent
Best use of talent in sponsorship and activations – may be an ambassador, blogger, celebrity, influencer, sports star etc. and can be an individual, group or team
• Best Use of Virtual Experiences
A campaign, activation or platform that responded to the COVID-19-enforced lockdown with an innovative new approach to connecting fans and audiences, despite their social distance and the lack of live events
