The winners of the 2025 Solal Marketing Awards were announced at a spectacular gala held at the fashionable leisure venue Fabryka Norblina in Warsaw.
This live celebration marked the first in-person recognition of the most effective and innovative marketing campaigns in the shopping centre industry since the pandemic. A record number of entries across eleven distinct categories were received, with finalists attending from across Europe, Canada, and South Africa.
Thirteen Gold Awards were presented. Among the major winners was Apsys Polska, which collected bronze, silver, and gold awards for campaigns across centres including Manufaktura, Posnania, and Galeria Katowicka.
South African malls also stood out, collecting eight awards in total. Gateway, Theatre of Shopping, and Sandton City received multiple accolades.
Rødovre Centrum in Copenhagen submitted a record number of entries and successfully converted most of them into award-winning campaigns.
The prestigious “Best of the Best” award, given for the highest score across 20 international judges, was awarded to a small-scale project in Portugal: ‘Silent Hour’ at Alegro Setúbal. The initiative transformed the entire centre to cater to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) customers. It also earned awards for Innovation and Best Use of a Small Budget.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening was the announcement of a special “Inspiration” Award for Nikolsky, Budhouse’s new development in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The centre launched on the eve of the Russian invasion and was later struck by a targeted missile attack. Solal Ambassador Chris Igwe recalled how Marketing Director Dmytro Bushmakin’s video presentation at the earlier Solal Marketing Conference left the industry audience in stunned silence.
“Without a doubt, this was the most moving and powerful moment of the successful Solal Marketing Conference in Warsaw,” said Igwe.
This year’s marketing conference and gala marked the first live edition of the newly relaunched Solal Awards.
Agnieszka Tomczak-Tuzińska, Marketing Director at Apsys Polska, commented: “The Solal Awards and the conference are not just about recognising great work, they’re an incredible opportunity to exchange experiences, understand the specifics of different markets, and take inspiration from outstanding practices across the world. But just as importantly, it’s about real-life connection, meeting face to face, building new relationships, and expanding our horizons beyond our daily work. That mix of knowledge-sharing and genuine human connection is what makes the Solal Awards truly special.”
Anita Stampfl of AniSta & Partners, and also a member of the Solal planning team, added: “For over half a decade, we haven’t had the opportunity to share and celebrate the best of our industry. The combination of an educational event culminating in a high-energy gala was such an uplifting moment. Marketing teams could finally come together to network and learn what’s new and great in retail marketing.”
The enthusiasm from marketing and centre management teams was mirrored by strong sponsor engagement. Industry leaders such as VISA and Multidekor were joined by partners including HBB Centermanagement, MK Illumination, Emplate, GroupM, and ESPT.
Andre Stromeyer, Managing Director of HBB Centermanagement, said: “We were delighted to be part of the awards. The gala reinvented the traditional awards evening format, much more aligned with the Gen Z audiences we are all aiming to engage. It’s no surprise it was completely sold out.”
In closing, Alan Thornton, Solal Chair and Managing Director of AL Marketing, remarked: “After last night’s success, we want to keep up the momentum. Our attention now turns to the 2026 awards and how we can make the Solals even bigger and better.”
