International jury of KIAF 2026: first names announced
February 25, 2026
The global creative community is once again coming together around the Kyiv International Advertising Festival. Sixteen representatives from 12 countries have already joined the international jury for 2026 – and this is only the beginning of the judging panel formation.
The Kyiv International Advertising Festival announces the first members of its international jury who will evaluate this season’s competition entries. KIAF works exclusively with international experts – creative leaders who shape the global advertising agenda and set industry standards every day.
The KIAF jury is one of the festival’s core values and the key reason why winning here truly matters. Entries are assessed not just by professionals, but by world-class practitioners: creative directors, strategists, designers, producers, and marketers behind high-profile international cases and iconic campaigns for leading global brands.
The formation of the KIAF jury is a careful and responsible process. It includes professionals with significant achievements and experience judging at the world’s most prestigious festivals. Many of them are recipients of top-tier awards, including Cannes Lions.
The KIAF 2026 competition program will feature six international jury panels, as well as a separate client jury team composed of leading marketers.
- JURY TEAM 1. Film, Audio & Radio, Integrated & Innovation, Audio & Radio Craft jury
- JURY TEAM 2. Design & Branding, Print & Publishing, Out Of Home, Design & Branding Craft, Print & Publishing Craft, Out Of Home Craft jury
- JURY TEAM 3. Digital & Mobile, Social Media & Influencer, AI, Media, Branded Content & Entertainment, Digital/Mobile/Social Media Craft, AI Craft, Media Craft jury
- JURY TEAM 4. Experience & Activation, PR, Direct Marketing, Brand Experience Craft, PR Craft, Direct Marketing Craft jury
- JURY TEAM 5. Film Craft, Branded Entertainment Craft jury
- JURY TEAM 6. Social Goals Contests jury
The first names of the KIAF 2026 jury:
- Nick Bakshi, Executive Creative Director, BETC Paris, France
- Pierre Bellefleur, Co-founder, STRIKE, France
- Andrew Chisholm, Executive Creative Director at Cossette overseeing the McDonald's business, Canada
- Francesco Epifani, Chief Creative Officer, Next Different, Italy
- Matjaž Germ, Chief Creative Officer, Agencija 101, Slovenia
- Valters Jonāts, Chief Creative Officer, Partner, McCann Riga, Latvia
- Carl Jones, Senior Lecturer, Westminster School of Media and Communication, UK
- Matej Kodrič, Creative Director, Agency Povem, Slovenia
- Vera Länger, AI & Innovation Creative Director, Artificial Group, Hungary
- Daniela Marino, VP, Creative Director, Edelman, Canada
- Linas Migonis, Creative Director, Partner, Fabula Rud Pedersen Group, Lithuania
- Delia Mija, Independent Creative Director & AI Artist, Romania
- Gabriel Padilha, Creative Director, GUT São Paulo, Brazil
- Sören Schröder, Executive Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi Switzerland, Switzerland
- Urmas Villmann, Chief Creative Officer, Kontuur Leo Burnett, Estonia
- Luc Wise, CEO, Co-founder, The Good Company, France
The formation of the jury is ongoing, and the full line-ups of each panel will be announced soon.
Early Birds Deadline – March 1, 2026.
The festival is held within the framework of Ukrainian Creative Stories.
Register for KIAF 2026 and become part of the international creative community shaping the future of advertising.
