Ogilvy Singapore, VML Sydney Lead APAC at The One Show 2026
Ogilvy Singapore and VML Sydney each secured 13 finalists at The One Show 2026, dominating APAC with single-campaign focus. Japan, Australia, and India lead regional representation across 204 entries.
The One Club for Creativity has announced finalists for The One Show 2026, with the Asia-Pacific region placing 204 entries from a global pool spanning 51 countries and regions.
Ogilvy Singapore and VML Sydney tied for the most finalists in APAC, each securing 13 spots. Awards will be presented during Creative Week 2026, with winners announced May 14 and the ceremony held May 15 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.
APAC's Top Agencies Bet Everything on One Campaign
What makes both agencies' results notable is their concentration. Ogilvy Singapore's 13 finalists are all for a single campaign: Vaseline "Vaseline Verified" for Unilever. VML Sydney's 13 finalists are equally focused, all drawn from "The Hidden Eye Test" for optometry brand 1001 Optometry.
Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo) follows with 12 finalists, including three for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) campaign "Fueled by Imagination." Auckland-based Motion Sickness secured nine finalists, with five of those for "The Māori Roll Call," produced for New Zealand health and social services provider Whānau Ora.
BLKJ Havas Singapore and Ogilvy Mumbai each earned seven finalists. BLKJ Havas contributed four for Haraku Ramen's "One Noodle" campaign, while Ogilvy Mumbai contributed three for Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea's "Chai Bansuri – The Tea Flute." Leo India Mumbai and TBWA\Hakuhodo each secured six finalists, with Bear Meets Eagle On Fire (Sydney) earning five.
Japan Leads by Country, Five Markets Dominate the Region
Japan tops all APAC markets with 39 finalists, followed by Australia with 35, India and Singapore with 29 each, and China with 25. These five markets account for approximately 77% of the region's 204 total finalists.
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South Korea (15), New Zealand (11), and Thailand (11) form the next tier. Malaysia earned six finalists, while Hong Kong SAR China and the Philippines each secured four. Bangladesh placed two finalists, and both Taiwan and Vietnam each placed one, confirming that APAC representation extends beyond established creative centers into smaller markets.
Globally, Rethink Toronto leads all agencies with 47 finalists. Uncommon Creative Studio London follows with 34, and Apple Cupertino, FCB Chicago, and VML New York each secured 26.
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Vaseline Verified and Hidden Eye Test Signal a Broader Creative Shift
The Vaseline "Vaseline Verified" campaign has drawn recognition beyond The One Show. Ogilvy Singapore also won a Gold Design Lotus at ADFEST 2026 for the same campaign. Ogilvy APAC also contributed to the agency's global ranking in The Drum's 2026 World Creative Rankings.
The 1001 Optometry result is equally notable. A campaign for a specialty optometry brand, not a global consumer goods company, generating 13 One Show finalists places health and accessibility-focused campaigns on the same competitive level as major commercial advertisers.
Motion Sickness's "The Māori Roll Call" adds further range to the APAC finalist picture. The campaign, built around indigenous New Zealand identity for a government-funded Māori services provider, earned five of the agency's nine total finalists. The cultural diversity across the full APAC finalist list, spanning Japanese aerospace, Indian tea traditions, Singaporean ramen, and New Zealand indigenous heritage, reflects a region where locally specific ideas are competing at a global level.
All 204 APAC finalists will receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze Pencils or Merits, with award levels confirmed during Creative Week 2026 on May 14.
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