OBIE Awards Move to NYC In October
For more than 80 years, the OBIE Awards have celebrated the work that defines out of home and brought together brands, agencies, and top creative leaders. Transitioning the OBIEs into a standalone event creates an evening devoted entirely to honoring today’s most imaginative and influential campaigns. It allows OAAA to convene the industry’s most creative voices in a setting designed to showcase the very best in OOH. As the medium continues to evolve through digital innovation, experiential storytelling, and new measurement capabilities, the OBIEs are evolving as well, becoming even more accessible, expansive, and reflective of the creative ambition that defines modern OOH.
As part of OAAA’s broader awards expansion, the organization will also launch the OAAA Honors Circle at the 2026 OOH Media Conference in Dallas, Texas. Debuting during the conference’s Tuesday evening program, a time traditionally reserved for the OBIE Awards, the Honors Circle will recognize the people and teams whose leadership, craft, and commitment propel the medium forward. While the OBIE Awards spotlight creative excellence, the Honors Circle extends recognition to the expertise across sales, marketing, operations, real estate, creative, and innovation that is essential to the industry’s growth. Together, these distinctions honor both emerging talent and seasoned contributors and reinforce the critical role that people across disciplines play in shaping the future of out of home.
“The OBIE Awards have always celebrated the most exceptional and pioneering creative work in our space,” said Anna Bager, President & CEO, OAAA. “As the OBIEs expand into a larger standalone event in New York, we are proud to introduce the Honors Circle, a platform built to recognize the people whose leadership, vision, and dedication drive our industry forward every day.”
The introduction of the Honors Circle reflects OAAA’s commitment to elevating the full spectrum of talent that fuels out of home. By creating a dedicated platform that highlights leadership, operational excellence, and innovation, OAAA ensures that the individuals and teams behind the medium receive meaningful recognition for their impact. At the same time, the expansion of the OBIE Awards into a standalone event provides the creative community with a modern, high-profile stage to celebrate the work that captures attention, shapes culture, and pushes boundaries.
By establishing dedicated annual platforms for both creative achievement and industry leadership, OAAA strengthens its role as the champion of excellence across the sector and ensures the OOH Media Conference remains a meaningful gathering for celebrating the people who make out of home one of the most dynamic areas of advertising.
Honors Circle awards categories will include:
- Local, Regional, and National Sales
- Marketing
- Real Estate
- Operations
- Creativity
- Extraordinary Service to OAAA
- Innovation of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
Together, the OAAA Honors Circle and the expanded OBIE Awards establish a modern recognition framework that celebrates both the creative excellence seen across out of home and the people who bring that work to life. This combined approach reflects the innovation, craft, and leadership that define the medium today and positions OOH for an exciting future.
About OAAA
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the national trade association for the entire out of home (OOH) advertising industry. OAAA represents over 850 members, including leading media companies, advertisers, agencies, ad-tech providers, and suppliers. OOH media includes billboards, street furniture, transit, place-based media, and digital formats (DOOH) across every sector of the channel. OAAA is the unifying voice for the industry, the authoritative thought leader, and the passionate advocate for advancing OOH advertising in the United States. The legislative unit of OAAA advocates for the responsible growth of OOH with federal, state, and local governments. OAAA-member media companies donate over $500 million annually in public service advertising. Founded in 1891, OAAA is headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in New York City.