The Clio and Meta Next Generation AI Creative Award
ONE BIG IDEA, BROUGHT TO LIFE FOR EVERYONE - WITHOUT COMPROMISE
We're challenging entrants to deliver a core creative idea for any brand you choose, rooted in cultural and creative trends, that transforms a 'traditional' campaign into a multiplicity of diverse creative assets that all map back to one big idea.
This is about using AI to take one powerful idea and tailor it authentically to many audiences without the usual trade-offs of time, cost or craft. Winning work will remove constraints that have limited creatives for generations: Speed (dramatically faster to market), Cost (highly efficient at producing vast amounts of content), Quality (an exceptionally high bar for craft that stays strictly on-brand).
WHO IS THIS FOR
This award is designed exclusively for emerging creatives with up to five years of professional experience: students, early-career agency, brand professionals, and independent creators.
Bring any and all tools in your creative toolbox. We want to see your unique workflows, and how you push the limits of what's creatively possible with AI. The winning creator receives a specialty Clio Award, presented on stage at the 2027 Clio Awards in New York City, plus a feature on Muse by Clio.
Download the brief for full overview and entry details.
ENTER BY: FEBRUARY 19, 2027*
Please note that entry prices increase based on the deadline period. See the FAQ section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Question? We are here to help
Who can enter?
Global emerging creatives with up to five years of professional experience; students, early‑career agency and brand professionals and independent creators.
What's the challenge?
Create an AI-enabled, creatively diverse, multi-asset social campaign that solves a real brand challenge and runs across Meta technologies (Facebook, Instagram, Threads).
Do I have to use AI tools from Meta?
Yes - every entry must demonstrate meaningful use of at least one AI tool from Meta. You may use other tools in your process, but entries that place tools from Meta at the heart of the workflow will stand out. See the brief for more details.
Which AI tools from Meta can I use?
You can use any of the recommended AI tools from Meta below. You can use one or several.
Recommended tools
|
Tool |
Category |
Potential application for the campaign entry |
|
Meta.ai |
Research & Image Generation |
Ideal for generating visuals, storyboards, key art and general ideation. |
|
Ads Creative Studio |
Ads Tools / Agentic Automation |
Creative-first surface designed for creative and media teams to use performance insights to iterate on creative strategy; diagnose what's working, generate and scale new image and video with GenAI, then test to find winners. |
|
Muse Glimmer |
Open-Weight Model |
An open-weight model that puts creators in the driver's seat, allowing entrants to build a custom creative workflow that researches, concepts and drives the tools generating your visuals. |
|
Muse Image |
Image Generation & Workflow |
Breaks a request into steps, draws on tools like web search, image search and code execution, and checks the generated image against the request before returning it - handling complex, multi-part briefs |
|
Vibes |
Apps / AI Tools |
Tool from Meta that gives you a space to ideate, explore, and experiment — generating imagery and video as visual and creative directions for how to bring an idea to life. |
What exactly do I submit?
Three things: (1) a Campaign Ecosystem - your core creative idea plus multiple diverse assets (video, imagery, copy) for different audiences; (2) a Workflow Overview - a transparent behind-the-scenes of your process; (3) Tool Disclosure - which tools you used and how.
Do I need a Meta Ads Manager account or an ad budget to enter?
You do not.
Can I use AI tools other than those from Meta (including from competitors)?
Yes, you can use any tools in your toolbox. But you must show meaningful use of at least one AI tool from Meta, and putting tools from Meta at the center of your workflow strengthens your entry.
What industries are off limits for the brand concept?
Housing, Employment, Credit/Financial Services, Social Issues, Elections, Politics, and Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare.
What is a "workflow overview"?
A short, transparent record of how the work was made; your process, the prompts/iterations and the tools and Meta technologies used. It lets the jury see how AI was used to create the work, not just the final output.
What does "Creative Diversity / Personalization at Scale" mean?
Taking one strong core idea and using AI to atomize it into a diverse but cohesive set of executions that speak to multiple audience segments - the "multiplicity of ideas," not one ad remade five times.
How is my entry judged?
Jurors will be asked to take the following into consideration when judging:
Creative innovation 30%
AI mastery 25%
Diversity and scale 25%
Constraint-breaking 20%
Can I enter as a team, or must I enter solo?
You can work as a team.
When do entries open and close?
- Entries Open: September 21, 2026
- Entries Close: February 19, 2027
How do I get started / where do I submit?
Entries are submitted through the Clio Awards website.
You can create an account and enter here.
What type of media/format is expected?
A multi-asset social campaign (video, imagery, and copy) designed to run across Meta technologies (Facebook, Instagram, Threads).
Who owns the work I submit (IP and usage rights)?
Clio and Meta are joint owners of the Clio & Meta Emerging Creative & AI entry submission materials (including all ideas, designs, discoveries, inventions, works, reports, programs, lists, data, and other materials). Clios use of the entry materials shall be limited solely to creative, promotional, and internal marketing purposes. Neither Meta nor Clio shall be required to provide monetary compensation to the entrant for any use of the entry materials. In the event that Meta chooses to utilize any entry materials for commercial purposes, Meta will provide attribution to the creator.
How many winners will be chosen?
One winning entry will be selected by the 2027 Clio Brand jury.
What is the prize?
The winning creator or team receives a specialty Clio Award on stage at the 2027 Clio Awards (NYC, May 2027), and is featured in an editorial piece on Muse by Clio. The winner or winning team (up to two people) will receive round-trip coach airfare and two nights of hotel accommodations to attend the 2027 Clio Awards show in New York City (May 2027).
Do winners need to be present at the 2027 Clio Awards?
It is strongly encouraged that the winner or winning team attend the Clio Awards ceremony.
How much does it cost to enter?
Entry Fees:
Deadline 1: Sep 14th – Oct 23rd: $5
Deadline 2: Oct 24th – Dec 11th: $10
Deadline 3: Dec 12th – Jan 15th: $15
Deadline 4: Jan 16th – Feb 19th: $20
Please note that prices increase based on the deadline period. See the Entry Fees section for details. All deadlines are 11:59PM EST.