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City Nation Place Awards 2026

Finalists announced on October 8th!

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City Nation Place Awards
Past Winners

Over the years, we've been fortunate to see some of the best and brightest that place branding and place marketing has to offer. On this page you'll find the past winners for each Award catergory with a direct link to the winners case study on the Place Brand Portfolio. 

Quick jump to the category: 



Best Use of Design

This category is designed to celebrate the best creative approaches to expressing the place’s brand narrative through design. The jury look for evidence that the development of visual or other design elements used to represent and express the place brand is rooted in the process of research and supports the place brand strategy.

Entries that can demonstrate a creative approach that works across key audiences, and that is designed to encourage adoption and use by stakeholders, will impress our judges. 

2025 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

Celebrate the simple pleasures  
Entered by South Australian Tourism Commission
Read the case study here


2024 - NORFOLK COAST, UK

Norfolk Coast – Protected Landscape
Entered by Lantern
Read the case study here

2023 - SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE, USA

Seattle Southside gets a brand new identity
Entered by Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority
Read the case study here

2022 - COSTA RICA

Biometric Passport of Costa Rica
Entered by essential COSTA RICA
Read the case study here

 
2021 - ZUIDOOST DISTRICT, AMSTERDAM

Zuidoost, Amsterdam's fastest changing city district: A new visual identity
Entered by Zuidoost City
Read the case study here
 

2020 - BERGEN, NORWAY

Brand Bergen New Profile by ANTI
Entered by Visit Bergen
Read the case study here

 
2019 - AZERBAIJAN

Take another look: Azerbaijan country rebrand
Entered by Landor
Read the case study here

 
2018 - ESTONIA

Entered by Enterprise Estonia
Read the case study here


Best Use of Data

This category is all about the strategic use of data and how a place has refined and shaped place brand and/or marketing strategy through insights. You may be using data to understand your stakeholders’ challenges; perhaps you traced the tourist footprint or investment decision process to understand their journey and develop an improved offering. You may have improved your measurement of the tangible impact of place branding initiatives and place marketing campaigns on international and residents' perceptions. Our jury look for detailed, thorough and innovative new approaches in how you have gathered information and then translated that into actions – for data gathering as well as data management and analysis. 

2025 – ESTONIA

Turning insights into tools for smarter nation branding
Entered by Enterprise Estonia, Brand Estonia
Read the case study here

2024 - CANADA

From Insights to Impact: Canada’s Tourism Data Collective Powering a Transformative Future
Entered by Destination Canada
Read the case study here


 2023 - GLASGOW CITY REGION, SCOTLAND

Using data storytelling to showcase Glasgow’s tech and investment story
Entered by Glasgow City Council
Read the case study here
 

2022 - LONG ISLAND, USA

Discover Long Island’s data driven approach to identify new and future visitor markets Entered by Discover Long Island
Read the case study here
 

2021 - CHILE

Chile's comparative perception panel study in key markets, for a more data driven and multisectoral strategy
Entered by Imagen de Chile
Read the case study here

 
2020 - LITHUANIA

The strategy for presenting Lithuania abroad
Entered by Office of the Government of Lithuania
Read the case study here


Best Use of Social Media



2020 - WESTERN CAPE

Dreaming of One Day Social Media Campaign
Entered by Wesgro
Read the case study here
 

2019 - FINLAND

Rent a Finn
Entered by Visit Finland
Read the case study here


 2018 - COPENHAGEN

Entered by Copenhagen Capacity
Read the case study here

2017 - FAROE ISLANDS

Entered by Visit Faroe Islands
Read the case study here


 2016 - FINLAND

Finland Emojis
Entered by Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Finland
Read the case study here
 

2015 - CROATIA

The Battle of Croatian Coaches
Entered by the Croatian National Tourism Office

Best Communications Strategy: Tourism

There are three separate Awards for Best Communication Strategies.

Best Communication Strategy: Tourism is for campaigns with the strategic aim of attracting visitors and growing your tourism economy.

The communication Awards celebrate great place brand story telling – our jury look for campaigns rooted in the place DNA and which put your place on the map. The jury are interested in hearing how you have tailored your messaging to your audience, and about creative and effective use of owned, social, and paid media channels – or indeed the creation of completely new ways of communicating your place values and place attractiveness!

2025: JAMAICA

Yaad Luv: A campaign by Jamaicans, for Jamaicans
Entered by Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)
Read the case study here


2024: TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

Odd Jobs
Entered by Tourism Tasmania
Read the case study here


2023: FIJI

Where Happiness Comes Naturally
Entered by Tourism Fiji
Read the case study here

 
2022: ICELAND

Welcome to the Icelandverse
Entered by Business Iceland
Read the case study here

 
2021: ICELAND

Looks Like You Need To Let It Out Campaign
Entered by Visit Iceland

Best Communications Strategy: Place Brand

There are three separate Awards for Best Communication Strategy.


Best Communication Strategy: Place Brand is for holistic campaigns with the strategic aim of promoting place attractiveness across all audiences – citizens, visitors, business, talent, and investors. 

The communication Awards celebrate great place brand story telling – our jury look for campaigns rooted in the place DNA and which put your place on the map. The jury are interested in hearing how you have tailored your messaging to your audience, and about creative and effective use of owned, social, and paid media channels – or indeed the creation of completely new ways of communicating your place values and place attractiveness! 

2025 – ESTONIA

Estonia: 100% digital, 0% bureaucrazy
Entered by Enterprise Estonia, Brand Estonia
Read the case study here


2024 – SCOTLAND

Selling Modern Scotland To The World
Entered by Brand Scotland
Read the case study here

 

2023 - UKRAINE

#WhatWeAreFightingFor
Entered by BRAND UKRAINE
Read the case study here

 
2022 - SCOTLAND

Scotland Is Open
Entered by Brand Scotland
Read the case study here


 2021 - FINLAND

Hän Honours
Entered by Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Read the case study here

Best Communications Strategy:

Economic Development

There are three separate Awards for Best Communication Strategy.

Best Communication Strategy: Economic Development for campaigns with the strategic aim of attracting investment, or attracting talent. 

The communication Awards celebrate great place brand story telling – our jury look for campaigns rooted in the place DNA and which put your place on the map. The jury are interested in hearing how you have tailored your messaging to your audience, and about creative and effective use of owned, social, and paid media channels – or indeed the creation of completely new ways of communicating your place values and place attractiveness!

2025 – DENMARK

Shape the future of your research
Entered by Copenhagen Capacity
Read the case study here

 
2024 - GREENSBORO NC, USA

Boomerang Greensboro
Entered by Action Greensboro
Read the case study here


2023 - VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

Vilnius TechFusion - Got Fired By Meta/Twitter? Move to Vilnius
Entered by Go Vilnius
Read the case study here


 2022 - DENMARK

The Danish Machine
Entered by Copenhagen Capacity
Read the case study here


2021 - HELSINKI

Freedom
Entered by Helsinki Marketing
Read the case study here

Best Placemaking Initiative

Developing your place attractiveness proposition is a key element of a successful place brand initiative and more destination marketing organisations and economic development teams are focusing on investment in product development and placemaking. 

This category is designed to celebrate the best projects implemented to create and enhance public spaces, foster community interaction and build the attractiveness of a district, town, or city – involving urban design or landscaping, and/or cultural programming. Our jury look for evidence that the placemaking project has an integral part of an overall vision for the place brand and contributes to the place brand narrative. Judges look for effective collaboration between place stakeholders and for evidence that the project has made a measurable difference to the quality of life and attractiveness of the place. 

2025 - HASTINGS, NEW ZEALAND

Waiaroha: Placing life-giving water in the heart of Heretaunga Hasting
Entered by Hastings District Council
Read the case study here


 2024 - COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

CopenPay
Entered by Wonderful Copenhagen
Read the case study here

 
2023 - BRIXTON, ENGLAND

Brixton X Harlem Twinning
Entered by Brixton BID
Read the case study here

Best Citizen Engagement

This category is all about the people factor: a place brand is all about its people and requires the support and endorsement of the citizens. Our Jury are keen to hear how place brand teams are proactively engaging with their citizens through research and communication to understand the essence of their place brand, and to ensure buy-in for the vision for place-making, tourism development, and economic development. Or alternatively, perhaps you have implemented a stellar strategy to promote civic pride and community spirit to build positive momentum around your place brand strategy and create a strong sense of identity. Places which are able to demonstrate that their citizens are actively supporting and collaborating with the place branding approach will do well in this category! 

2025 – CHILE

Made by Chileans Program – Chile
Brand Entered by Fundación Imagen de Chile  
Read the case study here
 

2024 – TASMANIA

Tasmanian Youth Story
Entered by Brand Tasmania  
Read the case study here


 2023 – THE BAHAMAS

People-to-People Experience
Entered by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Aviation and Investments
Read the case study here
 

2022 - MOLDOVA

Moldova For Peace
Entered by Invest Moldova
Read the case study here


 2021 - FORT MCMURRAY WOOD BUFFALO, ALBERTA

The key to revealing our regional identity during a global pandemic: LISTENING.
Entered by Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism
Read the case study here
 


2020 – FINLAND

#Vappuathome - Finland’s once-in-a-lifetime virtual May Day party
Entered by City of Helsinki
Read the case study here


 2019 - LITHUANIA

Lithuania's DNA
Entered by Brand Lithuania Unit at the Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Read the case study here


 2018 - FINLAND

Checkout 247
Entered by Visit Finland
Read the case study here

 
2017 - HELSINKI

Entered by the City of Helsinki
Read the case study here


2015 - IRELAND

Entered by ConnectIreland

Place Brand of the Year

This category is intended to recognise the achievement of place branding teams who bring everything together effectively – who are able to demonstrate a committed approach to building team structures to support a long-term strategic approach to managing and promoting the place brand. 

We look for a place brand who have established a clear framework and both short and long term objectives and who, over the past year have implemented a project, or strategic endeavour, or capitalised on an event, or achieved a particular goal – or perhaps even demonstrated how a strong place brand can provide resilience in a crisis. 

Our Jury look for evidence that the place is factoring in considerations for the sustainability of the place brand strategy: for a destination or place management strategy that is working to balance the needs of the place environment, of citizens, of business, and of visitors.

2025 - SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND

Sheffield Inspires  
Entered by Marketing Sheffield
Read the case study here


2024 - AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND

Defining A Country’s Values – Ngā Mātāpono
Entered by New Zealand Story
Read the case study here


2023 - LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS

European City of Science, Leiden 2022  
Entered by Leiden&Partners
Read the case study


2022 - ESTONIA

Brand Estonia
Entered by Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
Read the case study


 2021 - TASMANIA

Tasmanian Entered by Brand Tasmania
Read the case study


 2020 - AUCKLAND

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is Calling
Entered by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
Read the case study here
 

2019 - COSTA RICA

Our Brand Essence Entered by essential Costa Rica
Read the case study here


 2018 - EINDHOVEN

Entered by Eindhoven 365
Read the case study here


 2017 - GREATER COPENHAGEN

Entered by Copenhagen Capacity
Read the case study here


 2016 - THE HAGUE

Entered by the Municipality of The Hague City Branding Department
Read the case study here


 2015 - OSLO

Project Oslo
Entered by the City of Oslo

The City Nation Place Future Leader Award



The Future Leader award is designed to recognise those who are doing the hard graft to deliver what can be very complex and demanding initiatives and / or campaigns that contribute to the effectiveness of your place brand, place shaping, or place marketing strategy. 

2025 - Julie Madsen

Visit Ventura

2024 – Samantha Crawford

Brand Scotland


The City Nation Place Leadership Award

This Award is for the leader of a place brand or marketing organisation who has demonstrated leadership, passion, and innovation in the building and managing of an effective place brand strategy. 

2025 – David Gilbert

Destination Cleveland  
 

2024 – Maria Lypiatska

BRAND UKRAINE