The Ukrainian Council of Shopping Centers (UCSC) will host the second edition of the UCSC MRKTNG AWARDS on November 12, 2026, in Kyiv. The awards recognise outstanding marketing campaigns by Ukrainian shopping centres, with an independent jury comprising Ukrainian and international experts assessing the entries using a methodology based on the European SOLAL AWARDS.
Introduced in 2025, UCSC MRKTNG AWARDS was established to recognise effective, creative and innovative marketing campaigns across Ukraine’s shopping centre sector. The initiative also aims to encourage the exchange of expertise and strengthen professional standards in shopping centre marketing.
The 2026 edition received 38 entries from shopping centres across Ukraine. The jury has completed its evaluation, and it will announce the winners at the awards ceremony in Kyiv on 12 November.
An independent jury with strong European representation
The jury brings together professionals from shopping centre management, retail real estate, marketing and communications across Europe and beyond.
It includes: Agnieszka Tomczak-Tuzińska, Marketing Director at Apsys in Poland; Alan Thornton, Managing Director of AL Marketing in the UK; Ana Isabel Moita, Head of Marketing at Sonae Sierra in Portugal; Anita Stampfl, Owner of Anista & Partners in Germany; Bram Hulsbosch, Sales Director at MK Illumination in the Netherlands; Charlotte Andersen, Marketing Director at Rødovre Centrum in Denmark; Chris Igwe, President of Chris Igwe International in France; Frédéric Rouleau, Managing Director at Multi; Lucia Connor, Vice President of Marketing at Oxford Properties Group in Canada; Richard Hallward, founder of CEEQA; Reinhard Winiwarter, Managing Partner of ACROSS Magazine.
As well as Ukrainian representatives Valeriia Lavska, CCO at Promodo, and Andriy Chumachenko, co-founder of Netpeak and BASE.
Evaluation based on the SOLAL methodology
The UCSC MRKTNG AWARDS evaluation framework draws on the methodology used by the international SOLAL AWARDS, which has a long-standing track record in recognising marketing excellence in shopping centres.
Jury members assess each entry individually. The evaluation considers five key areas: objectives, implementation, innovation, results and budget. The approach focuses on the quality of the idea, its execution and its effectiveness rather than the size of the shopping centre or the amount spent on a campaign.
The process is supported by independent oversight from legal firm ARZINGER and audit and consulting company Baker Tilly.
Awards are granted at three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. These distinctions depend on the score achieved by each entry rather than its position in a competitive ranking. Consequently, several projects in the same category may receive the same level of award, while entries that fail to reach the required threshold may receive no award.
The competition recognises campaigns across four categories:
- Corporate Social Responsibility — campaigns focused on social initiatives.
- Tactical Activation — campaigns designed to increase shopping centre footfall and sales.
- Best Social Media Campaign — outstanding campaigns across social media channels.
- Creative of the Year — exceptional visual creativity in marketing communications.
Further information about the UCSC MRKTNG AWARDS, including award categories, evaluation methodology, jury members and tickets for the ceremony, is available on the award’s official website.
