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.
Igor Fernandes
Associate Creative Director | Mastercard, Brazil
Igor Fernandes is an Associate Creative Director at Mastercard, leading creatives across Latin America. His interest sits where brands meet real cultural and social stakes, the kind of work that has to mean something to earn attention. He cares about ideas with a point of view and craft that backs them up.
Delmy Alvarenga
Strategy Director | Publicis, Guatemala
Delmy Alvarenga is a Central American strategist focused on understanding the cultural forces behind how people choose, behave and connect with brands. As Strategy Director at Publicis Groupe Guatemala, she works across the region transforming cultural observations, consumer tensions and business challenges into strategic provocations for creativity.
Her practice brings together strategic planning, behavioral thinking, storytelling, archetypes and systems thinking, using cross-pollination to uncover less obvious solutions to brand problems. She believes the most powerful strategies often emerge by reframing familiar behaviors and finding new meaning in what culture already does naturally.
David Vallier
Creative Director | AG Partners Dakar, Senegal
David has been building brands across markets and industries for over 25 years, evolving his craft alongside an industry that has transformed from analogue to digital at remarkable speed.
Over a career spanning three decades, between Paris and several sub-Saharan African countries, he has developed a deep understanding of the continent’s diverse markets, cultures and audiences. This experience gives him a unique perspective on how international brands can create work that is both locally relevant and creatively ambitious.
Driven by a constant pursuit of excellence, David has helped create campaigns that combine effectiveness with creative recognition.
A firm believer in the power of collaboration, he is equally committed to nurturing the teams around him and encouraging them to do work they can be proud of — while always serving their clients at their best.
Rafael Barbosa
Senior Creative Art Director | Publicis, Brazil
Rafa is a Brazilian Senior Creative Art Director with over 17 years of experience creating culturally relevant ideas for leading global brands, including Nestlé, Adidas, Red Bull, Bradesco, MTV, Mastercard and Chevrolet. His work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, El Ojo, CCSP, Effie Awards and Wave Festival. He also serves as a jury member for international advertising and design awards.
André Pedroso
Creative Advisor | Delta MullenLowe, Ecuador
André Pedroso is a Creative Advisor with more than three decades of experience in advertising, working across Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and the United States.
He began his career in Rio de Janeiro and has held creative leadership roles at agencies including Young & Rubicam, Mullen Lowe Brasil, DM9DDB and Momentum. At DM9DDB, where he spent nine years, he was part of the leadership team when the agency was named Cannes Lions Agency of the Year in 2009.
In Colombia, André served as CCO of DDB, working with brands including McDonald’s, BBVA, Avianca, and AB InBev. He later moved to Ecuador as Chief Creative Officer of MullenLowe Delta, where he also served as President of MullenLowe Group’s LATAM Creative Council.
Throughout his career, his work has been recognized at Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Clio Awards, London International Awards, El Ojo de Iberoamérica, FIAP, and the Effie Awards.
André currently lives in Miami and works across the U.S. and Latin American markets.
