Scotland’s marketing community came together at Edinburgh Corn Exchange on 18 June to celebrate outstanding creativity, effectiveness and leadership at The Marketing Society Star Awards 2026, with Leith emerging as one of the night’s biggest winners.
Leith was named Star Agency of the Year and secured three Gold awards. The agency won International Marketing for “Scotland’s Universities Unite for Growth” with Brand Scotland. Its work with the Scottish Government, “The Inconvenient Truth About School Attendance”, also took Gold in both Marketing Planning, Research and Insights and Public Sector.
The Champions awards recognised leading individuals and teams across the profession. FreeAgent was named Star Marketing Team of the Year, Jenny Emslie of Sunshine the Social Agency received Inspirational Agency Leader of the Year, and Lindsay Montgomery of Lloyds Banking Group was crowned Inspirational Marketing Leader of the Year.
Lane also enjoyed an exceptional evening, winning three Gold awards. “Know The Warning Signs” for Myeloma UK triumphed in Small Budget, Big Impact and Design, Creativity and Craft, while “Full Cream Ahead with Mackie’s” won Advertising. Sunshine the Social Agency collected Gold for Glenmorangie’s “Once Upon a Time In Scotland” in Digital First and Drink.
For over two decades the Star Awards have become a cornerstone event in Scotland's marketing calendar, fostering innovation and creativity within the industry. The ceremony, hosted by TV and Podcast Host Gordon Smart to an audience of over 540 marketers.
Other multiple Gold winners included Bright Signals for Age Scotland’s “The Loneliest Time of the Year” in Marketing in Society and Media, and Guy & Co for Fray Bentos’ “Bish Bash Bentos” in Integrated Marketing and Food. Union Group won Brand Experience for Edinburgh Zoo Giant Lanterns and AI, Automation and Emerging Tech for its work with Lloyds Banking Group.
The awards also celebrated emerging talent. Bound to Bloom from Johnstone High School received the Star School Award, while Joy Fallon of the University of Glasgow was named Star Marketing Student. Oisín McDaid and Katie Barraclough won Aspiring Creative Star. Lauren Blair of Always Be Content, Patrick Hughes of Too Gallus and Sonia Raineri of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society were named Rising Agency, Creative and Marketing Stars respectively.
