- Entry prices frozen as ceremony fixed for 13 March in London
- New category to recognise equality, diversity and inclusion in sponsorship
- Rigorous judging a hallmark of Awards with more than 100 judges in 2024
The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) today launched the 2025 ESA Awards with an array of categories designed to reflect the most innovative and impactful sponsorship powering the industry across Europe.
The continent’s most sought-after sponsorship prizes will again be up for grabs at The Brewery in London on Thursday, 13 March 2025. With prices frozen from 2024, entries are open until 18 October with early-bird discounts available until 27 September.
A new category – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Sponsorship – reflects the enduring sponsorship trends of ESG and Cause/CSR, with last year’s new categories (Sponsorship with a Social Purpose and Environmentally Sustainable Sponsorship) expected to again attract multiple entries.
To support those in the arts and culture sector, entries to the Arts & Culture Sponsorship category will this year be free of charge.
Recipients of the ESA Fellowship and the ESA Diploma 2024 Top Student will also be honoured during the annual ceremony – which in 2024 attracted a record attendance of more than 500.
A perennial hallmark of the ESA Awards is the high standard of judging, and senior sponsorship and marketing professionals are invited to apply today to be part of the 2025 ESA Awards judging panel, which in 2024 numbered more than 100.
ESA Chair Sophie Morris said: “It was a tremendous thrill to greet the winners of the 2024 ESA Awards in my first year as Chair of the Association and I can’t wait to see who earns recognition for their exceptional work next March.
“The ESA Awards has a hard-earned reputation for celebrating the very best of European sponsorship and a big part of this is about marking the evolution of the industry and its values – not just its growth. The new category will enable organisations to demonstrate how they continued to make the industry more equitable, diverse and inclusive in 2024.
“Furthermore, I’m pleased that the ESA Awards Committee has recognised the profound funding challenges faced by the arts and culture sector by offering them free entries this year.
“Whether you are intending to enter and win, attend and network, or judge and be inspired by entries in the 2025 ESA Awards, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the experience. I wish you luck and hope to see you in March!”
All entrants to the 2025 ESA Awards will be asked to submit a 250-word elevator pitch and either a 10-minute video presentation or a 2,000-word written entry.
ESA Awards Chair of Judges, Matthew Leopold, said: “Having overseen a judging process that attracted more than 100 sponsorship leaders last year, followed by a record attendance, I think it’s fair to say the cachet of the ESA Awards has never been higher.
“We were bowled over by the response to the two new purpose-based categories that were launched last year, and we continue to review and refine the list to make sure organisations involved at the sharp end of sponsorship get the recognition they deserve.
“I urge anyone with extensive experience who is passionate about our industry to apply to the judging panel.”
ESA would like to thank the event sponsors that make a vital contribution to the success of the ESA Awards. Sponsorium, caytoo, datapowa, Sponsorworks, SPORTO and Wasserman Live have renewed their support for 2025, as category sponsors and event partners. For sponsorship opportunities please contact us at opportunity@sponsorship.org.
-ENDS-
