Founded in 2001, the Horizon Interactive Awards is an international competition recognizing excellence in web design, interactive media, digital advertising, video, mobile apps and other digital experiences.
In 2026, Horizon celebrates its 25th annual competition. Over 25 years, the competition has received more than 20,000 entries from designers, developers, agencies, creative professionals and organizations from nearly all 50 U.S. states and more than 50 countries around the world.
Horizon recognizes outstanding digital work through individual project awards and agency recognition. Entries are evaluated by a volunteer panel of industry professionals with backgrounds in interactive media, graphic design, advertising, marketing and related fields. End users and non-designers may also participate in the judging process, providing an important perspective on the experiences being evaluated.
The competition recognizes work across a broad range of digital media, including websites, interactive experiences, online advertising, video, mobile applications, social media and emerging technologies. This breadth reflects the continuing evolution of digital media and the many ways people create and experience digital content.
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Egypt
France
Germany
Greenland
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Martinique
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Panama
Philippines
Portugal
Poland
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
South Africa
Slovakia
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Ukraine
United Kingdom
USAHorizon recognizes individual digital projects at multiple levels, giving exceptional work an opportunity to stand out within its category and across the competition. Entries may receive Best of Show, Best of Category, Gold, Silver or Bronze recognition based on the quality of the work and the results of the judging process.
Best of Show represents the highest level of individual project recognition in the competition, while Best of Category recognizes the strongest entry within a specific category. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards provide additional levels of recognition for outstanding work.
Horizon also recognizes the agencies, studios and developers behind outstanding digital work. In addition to individual project awards, organizations can earn recognition based on their overall performance across multiple winning entries.
Agency recognition includes Best Agency, Best Agency Runner-Up and Distinguished Agency. These awards provide an opportunity to recognize organizations that consistently produce exceptional digital work across multiple projects and categories.
Distinguished Agency recognition is based on cumulative award performance, giving agencies an opportunity to demonstrate the depth and consistency of their work over time.
Unlike category-specific awards, the Special Awards recognize exceptional work from across the Horizon competition. They provide an opportunity for a project to be recognized for an outstanding quality or achievement that rises above the boundaries of its individual category.
The 2026 Special Awards also reflect the continued evolution of digital media, including recognition for exceptional uses of artificial intelligence in digital work.
Gain International Recognition - Horizon gives agencies, designers, developers and organizations an opportunity to have their work evaluated alongside digital projects from around the world. With entries from more than 50 countries, recognition extends beyond your local market and puts your work in an international context.
Benchmark Your Work - Awards provide an opportunity to step outside your own organization and see how your work compares with other digital projects being produced across the industry. Horizon’s judging process considers UX and design, creativity, technical execution, message and effectiveness, providing a balanced evaluation of the complete digital experience.
Recognize the Team Behind the Work - Exceptional digital projects are rarely the work of one person. Designers, developers, strategists, writers, marketers and other specialists contribute to the final experience. A Horizon award gives the entire team something tangible to celebrate and share.
Strengthen Your Portfolio and Client Relationships - Independent recognition can give clients and prospective clients another way to evaluate the quality of your work. Winning projects can become valuable additions to agency portfolios, case studies, proposals, social media and other marketing efforts.
Build a Record of Excellence - One great project can earn an award. Consistently producing great work can earn recognition for the organization behind it. Horizon’s agency awards, including Best Agency, Best Agency Runner-Up and Distinguished Agency, give agencies an opportunity to demonstrate the depth and consistency of their digital work across multiple projects.