Final entry deadline
(4 submissions free of registration fees):
October 2, 2026
Online Judging:
October 7–10, 2026
Winners Notified:
October 12, 2026
Gathering of Judges
(Geneva, Switzerland):
October 29, 2026
Volunteer Experience:
November 19-20, 2026
About us
The idea for the Luum Awards came together during the pandemic, inspired by the acts of solidarity seen around the world at that time. The festival organizers created the Luum Awards to recognize the creative works that are promoting a better world, firmly believing in the power of communicators to serve as global change agents.
To promote this goal, every year, we put together a team of first-rate judges, made up of leaders of NGOs, brands, and advertising agencies, to evaluate creative and strategic pieces that promote messages related to making the world a better place.
We are the first global creative festival to go zero-paper. Additionally, since 2024, we have held our events in host cities other than Switzerland, where the festival is registered, choosing instead to host our events in the Global South, where we can help communities in need with investment and social/environmental volunteer efforts. By becoming a volunteer, you can help us achieve our goal!
When you participate in Luum you help us support in-need communities. For example, in 2024, we hosted an event in Peru’s Sacred Valley, which resulted in USD $60,000 in direct and indirect investments entering the local economy in a primarily impoverished indigenous region of Peru.
News
The global initiative launched by the Luum Awards
Thousands of associations, communities and small and medium-sized NGOs struggle day-in and day-out to address the world’s social and environmental challenges, without the help of communications agencies or marketing experts. This undoubtedly affects their ability to fulfill their objectives.
Wakii seeks to accompany these NGOs on their missions, so that, with appropriate strategies they can secure more resources and with creativity they can continue to change lives through more powerful messaging.
There are many “invisible” causes that need our attention, while everyone focuses on the same “trending” issues. For example, we need more people talking about forestry, cultural protection of displaced indigenous communities, education for children with visual impairments, lifestyle support for people with spina bifida, care for homeless elderly populations, etc.
If you belong to an agency or brand, you can become a global change agent.
Changing lives with Luum Awards and Wakii
Luum & Wakii 2026 Venues
Hilton Convention Center (Geneva, Switzerland):
Where we will evaluate the festival’s best submissions
Costa Rica:
The Luum Awards has selected Costa Rica as the host country for its 2026 awards ceremony and volunteer experience.
Meet our 2026 judges
We are convinced that creative communications can help us make the world a better place. We CAN be global change agents! To achieve this, we have assembled a first-rate team of festival judges, made up of leaders from NGOs, advertising companies, and creative agencies from around the world.
Saf Sindhi
Founder and Chief Creative Officer | Bananas, South Africa
Saf Sindhi is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Bananas, an independent creative company built to make advertising fun again. Over a 15-year career spanning South Africa and London, he’s created award-winning work for some of the world’s biggest brands, while remaining obsessed with brave ideas, cultural mischief and work people actually want to talk about.
Romina Rivero
Creative Director | Punto Ogilvy, Uruguay
Romina Rivero is a Creative Director at Punto Ogilvy Uruguay, with more than 13 years of experience in the advertising industry.
Throughout her career, she has worked at agencies including The Electric Factory, Grey and Wunderman Thompson, developing ideas for local and global brands. Her work has been recognized at festivals such as El Ojo de Iberoamérica, New York Festivals, Ad Stars, FIAP, WINA, IAB MIXX, Desachate, Campana de Oro and Effie Awards.
She believes creativity becomes more powerful when strong ideas are combined with a clear point of view, cultural relevance and the ability to create meaningful connections with people.
Pablo Castillo
CCO | House Dentsu, Costa Rica
Pablo Castillo is currently the Chief Creative Officer at House Dentsu Costa Rica (2021–2025). Under his leadership, House Dentsu became the most awarded Central American agency at Saniss 2023 and was named Agency of the Year in the health sector by FICE.
He has worked with some of the most important brands in the Central American region, including Mastercard, Bayer, Chevrolet, Burger King, Toyota, Pizza Hut, Scotiabank, Hyundai, Suzuki, HSBC, Coca-Cola, and Claro.
His work has been nominated and awarded more than 350 times at festivals such as Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, El Ojo de Iberoamérica, Effie Latam, FIAP, The Cup Awards, El Sol, Wave in Rio, New York Festivals, MAD Stars, Luum Awards, Saniss Awards, Echo Awards, Festival Antigua, WINA, Festival Caribe, and Festival Volcán.
Pablo has served as a jury member at some of the industry’s leading festivals, including New York Festivals, El Ojo de Iberoamérica, WINA, MAD Stars, Saniss Awards, Echo Awards, and Festival Antigua.
Pablo also won the local Young Lions competition in the Cyber category in 2014 and represented Costa Rica at the international competition.
Mario Limon
Digital Marketing & Growth Manager | Publicidad Comercial, Guatemala
Pra Leiva
Director | OZ Consulting, Costa Rica
Marvin Leiva “Pra” is a Latin American advertising and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience across creative, digital, strategy and consulting.
Former Head of Digital at BBDO Guatemala, Regional Creative Director for Coca-Cola Latincenter and DGC for Findasense Spain, Marvin has led award-winning work recognized at Cannes Lions, LIA Awards, New York Festivals, FIAP, Ojo de Iberoamérica, London Festivals, Art Directors Club of New York, Festival Antigua and Festival of the Caribbean, among others.
In 2017, he won the Grand Prix at the LIA Awards in the UK and led Findasense to become the most awarded independent consultancy at the Wina Awards in Los Angeles. He has also been part of teams that positioned agencies among the most recognized in their markets.
As a creative and business leader, he has served on international juries including New York Festivals, Ojo de Iberoamérica and AdStars in Asia.
Today, Marvin leads several companies, including Oz Consultagency LATAM, where he combines creativity, strategy, technology and business to build brands and drive transformation across the region. Under his leadership, the agency was recognized among the 110 Agencies to Watch in 2025 and achieved 4th place at FEPI Argentina.
His work continues to connect creativity, culture and business with a distinctly Latin American perspective.
