CATEGORIES

The categories for the 2025 Excellence Awards have been expanded to better reflect our constantly evolving industry. We continue to spotlight The Members’ Choice Award to reflect the brands and products that made the biggest impression on our members. Nominated by LI and our awards committee, the winner is determined by votes from Licensing International’s global membership.
BEST LICENSED BRANDS
This group of awards honors licensors, brand owners and licensing agents that have brought a brand to life in a creative, innovative way. Awards are given in 11 different categories.
  • Best Animated Brand
  • Best Art, Design, or Museum Brand
  • Best Corporate Brand
  • Best Fashion or Lifestyle Brand
  • Best Food, Beverage, or Restaurant Brand
  • Best Interactive or Digital Brand
  • Best Live Action Brand
  • Best Music Artist or Celebrity Brand
  • Best Publishing, Stationery, or Social Expression Brand
  • Best Sports, eSports, or Collegiate Brand
  • Best Toy Brand

VIEW BEST LICENSED BRANDS

BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS
This group of awards honors manufacturers for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand. Awards are given in 12 different product categories.
  • Best Apparel, Accessories, or Footwear Product for Corporate Brands
  • Best Apparel, Accessories, or Footwear Product for Entertainment Brands
  • Best Appliance, Automotive, or Electronic Product for Corporate Brands
  • Best Appliance, Automotive, or Electronic Product for Entertainment Brands
  • Best Food or Beverage Product for Corporate Brands
  • Best Food or Beverage Product for Entertainment Brands
  • Best Health & Beauty Product
  • Best Home Décor or Homeware Product
  • Best Interactive or Digital Product
  • Best Publishing, Social Expression, or Back-to-School Product
  • Best Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 0-8) Product
  • Best Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 8+) Product

VIEW BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS

BEST COLLABORATIONS
This award honors the best partnership of the year between two or more brands of equal or similar recognition. This team-up will have been innovative and successful in driving growth, audiences and buzz. In order to qualify for this category, your collaboration must be a limited quantity and/or a limited time offer that does not exceed 2 years.
  • Best Accessories or Footwear Collaboration
  • Best Apparel Collaboration
  • Best Hardlines or Packaged Goods Collaboration

VIEW BEST COLLABORATIONS

BEST LICENSED PROMOTION
The most outstanding use of a licensed property to promote a different product or service. Promotions that have not carried a fee or royalty (eg theatrical movie promotions primarily for marketing support) are not eligible.
  • Best Licensed Promotion
BEST RETAILERS
Retailers that have demonstrated the highest degree of creative merchandising for a licensed property, with outstanding sell-through to prove it.
  • Best Retailer for Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, or Sports Brands
  • Best Retailer for Entertainment Brands

VIEW BEST RETAILERS

BEST EXPERIENTIAL OR LOCATION-BASED INITIATIVE
The most innovative use of a licensed property at a live event or location.
  • Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative
BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
This award recognizes a licensed product or product range that is making measurable improvements on sustainability
  • Best Sustainability Initiative
BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FEATURING A BRAND
This award recognizes the imaginative and effective use of a licensed property within an above-the-line advertising campaign. This includes print, radio, TV, cinema, and outdoor media advertisements where the property is used to elevate and promote another brand. Advertising for third-party promotions or licensed product advertising are not eligible for this category.
  • Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand
Members' Choice Award Category
The Members' Choice Award supersedes the previous Members' Vote across categories, aiming to honor exceptional innovation within a brand or product and foster broader participation. This new award was designed to ensure all members have a chance to engage meaningfully in the awards.
  • Members' Choice Award