Past Winners
Not only do the Licensing International Excellence Awards showcase the best of licensing every year, they also serve as a historical record, offering a brief glimpse of the brands and innovations that have shaped our industry over the last three decades.
With hundreds of entries every year, the competition to make it on the ballot, much less win, is fierce. Those who do win can savor the knowledge that not only will they be celebrated by their peers in the present, their work will also live on in this annal of licensing innovation and achievement.
2023
New brands took home a win and Best Sustainability Initiative and Most Impactful Service Provider awards were introduced
2022
Live in Las Vegas for the first time in 3 years, the Excellence Awards were buzzing! Corporate brands made a big showing.
2021
One special award added this year was for the Pandemic Pivot, recognizing companies’ efforts to use licensing to react to the effects of the global pandemic.
2020
The Virtual Awards Ceremony, hosted by Marshal Mizrahi, inducted Martha Stewart into the Hall of Fame, and unveiled 23 winners from around the globe.
2019
Fornite ruled the night with 5 wins including the inaugural Newcomer Award for companies in their first year of licensing.
2018
Sally Hansen’s Crayola Insta-Dry nail color collection wins the first-ever Community Choice Award.
2017
Three executives are inducted into the Hall of Fame for the first time in 26 years, while Striker and WBCP each rack up a trio of wins.
2015
Disney’s Frozen rules the night, winning Best Overall Program, Best Animated Program & helping Kohl’s bring home Best Retailer.
2014
“Angry Birds” and “Duck Dynasty” fly off with wins, including Best Overall Program of the Year for Brandgenuity’s work with the reality TV phenom.
2013
Activision’s Skylanders merges reality and digital and wins big, while Campbell’s visits Target with little help from Andy Warhol (winning Best Licensing Promotion).
2012
Rovio’s Angry Birds brings home three wins, while the NBA and Junk Food Clothing continue to dominate the sports categories.
2011
Boots takes home Best Retailer for its Strictly Come Dancing program. Disney’s Toy Story 3 takes home Best Overall and Hello Kitty sweeps the Character category.
2010
Adidas rides off with a win thanks to a partnership with Vespa, and the Twilight Saga: New Moon wins Best Overall and helps Nordstrom win Best Retailer.
2008
Vera Wang transitions from fashion to flower garnering a Best Licensee win, and Disney’s “High School Musical 2” and “Hannah Montana” take home multiple wins.