Ad Black Sea - International Festival of Creativity

05/06/2026

🎂 For this anniversary edition of Ad Black Sea we're going ALL IN... And that applies to our contest as well!
Just take a look at this lineup of absolute all-stars that will be judging your works this year:

⭐️ Classic - Catalin Dobre (CCO, Co-CEO, McCann Bucharest)
⭐️ Design & Print - Natasha Jen (Partner, Pentagram)
⭐️ Engagement - Mihnea Gheorghiu (Global CCO, LePub)
⭐️ Impact - Cindy Gallop (Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn)

The crème de la crème of their respective fields, who have won more awards than we can possibly list, this fantastic four will serve as the ABS2026 Jury Presidents... Which means that it's on you to put your best foot forward and give them something truly impressive to evaluate!

✊ Think you're up for the task? Then send your work here: adblacksea.com

04/06/2026

✨ Last year Justyna Mielnikiewicz taught us all about creating beyond assignments, keeping the spark alive, and catching the mystical 'second wind' that so many in the industry long for.

Funny enough, these lessons still stand today. So, give the newest episode of Offstage Talks a listen, refresh your memory, and thank us later 😉

🎙️Youtube: https://youtu.be/OnJbdutgYp8
🎧Spotify: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/c49CFqDlH3b

Last year Justyna Mielnikiewicz taught us all about creating beyond...

03/06/2026

✊ Having grown up in the post-revolution Romania of the late 80's and early 90's, Catalin Dobre knows all about being ON THE EDGE and using creativity as a means of navigating through tough times and blurry lines. And while he no longer builds toy guns out of plastic pipes found at the nearest construction site, those informal early bootcamps of innovation molded him into a creative hall-of-famer, an awardee of every advertising show you can image, and the man who brought the first Cannes Grand Prix to Eastern Europe.

⛵️ And yet, one of the region's most influential visionaries continues to push the boundaries of Eastern European creativity to this day. One of the early guests of the Ad Black Sea festival, Catalin returns to a familiar, brightly lit stage in Batumi 10 years later, to fulfill his duties as a speaker and the Classic Jury president, and help us celebrate the milestone anniversary in style.

🎫 Hear all he has to say - get your pass now: adblacksea.com

02/06/2026

🍻 It's hard to imagine those legendary Ad Black Sea networking sessions and hot Batumi evenings without a chilled bottle of ქარვა • Karva ...

Thankfully, you don't have to, because our trusty friends and partners will be there on September 10-12 to keep the party vibes high and temperature low! What fun activities have they planned for you this year? Only one way to find out - be there, at the 10th anniversary of the Ad Black Sea festival 🎂

01/06/2026

🌸 ON THE EDGE of traditional and contemporary, calmness and spontaneity, softness and strength...

There are many ways to describe the seamless elegance with which Lea Woo breathes life into her mesmerizing illustrations. But we thought it would be better if she could do it herself - standing ON THE EDGE of Europe and Asia, as one of the speakers of ABS2026.

🤜🤛 And we've found the perfect partners in art for this: DAE, a platform that brings illustration, storytelling, and craftsmanship to life by transforming them into functional objects that can be used, lived with, and experienced daily in your very own home. Through this collaboration, we are not only able to bring Lea to Batumi but give you a chance to purchase her artworks turned into items and make them a part of your daily lives.

🎫 Experience it all on September 10-12. Get your pass now: adblacksea.com

29/05/2026

🛟 Don't say we didn't warn ya…

The first batch of the ABS2026 tickets is now officially SOLD OUT and we're moving on to the next phase.

A limited number of II Basket passes is now available on our web, and once they're gone, unfortunately, there will be no way to attend the festival.

🎫 Don't miss your chance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the biggest creative gathering in the region, get your pass now: https://adblacksea.com/

28/05/2026

⭐️ How do you know when an idea has the potential to change how people think? Can one achieve success on your own or is having a partner in crime practically mandatory? And how can you use creativity as a guiding light in the battle against outer constraints?

Find out from the newest episode of our Offstage Talks with last year's speaker, the co-founded of AKQA São Paulo, and the man who made expanding creative frontiers his life's mission - Hugo Veiga ⚡️

🎙 Youtube: https://youtu.be/VmGWIFOunxc
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NHcRx0MDEK5ZF0nBDmmEg?si=0fbD60XmTueIeCvrCSiqTA

How do you know when an idea has the potential to change how people think? Can one achieve success on your own or is having a partner in crime practically ma...

28/05/2026

🎫 I Basket is______ON THE EDGE of being sold out!

The first batch of passes for the 10th Anniversary edition of the Ad Black Sea Festival is almost sold out. Once the last remaining tickets are gone, the II Basket sales will kick off and continue until those disappear as well... Which will happen quicker than you think!

😉 So, do yourselves a favor - secure your spot at the most epic celebration of creativity in the region: adblacksea.com

27/05/2026

🚨 Good news! The Ad Black Sea contest rules have gotten simpler:

⚡️ Following the industry's latest trends, we've streamlined our categories system, and now submitting your best creative works is easier than ever;
⚡️ We've also added the "Creator & Brand Partnership" category to several disciplines, so that respective content can get its deserved recognition;
⚡️ And, of course, it was about time to add a separate "Use of AI" category to Visual and Film Craft.

🏄 For more info on rules, categories, and other aspects of the competition, sign in and download the official kit of ABS2026: https://adblacksea.awardhub.org/information/ =about

25/05/2026

⭐ In a world where millions of people share the same work title, she is considered one of the nine "Designers Who Matter". Perhaps it's because of her innovative approach that challenges conventional notions of media and cultural contexts? Or because her works are a testament to the art of dancing ON THE EDGE of technology and culture, exploring how design shapes perception, experience, and critical discourse? Or because the identity of the author becomes apparent the moment you lay eyes on her works?

🎨 Whatever the reason is, one thing is certain: it's our absolute delight to introduce our next speaker and the President of this year's Design Jury - Natasha Jen. A partner at Pentagram, a six-time National Design Award nominee, Natasha continues to push the boundaries of her industry, despite having earned awards from every major design competition. But on September 10-12 she will put all that on brief hold, as she delivers her keynote speech from the main stage of Ad Black Sea 2026.

🎫 Be there when it happens - get your pass now: adblacksea.com