Following a Day 1 that charted the course for a power-packed ABBYs, Day 2 kept the momentum roaring, day 2 shifted the spotlight firmly onto creative brilliance, specialist capabilities and agency craftsmanship at Goafest 2026. Day 1 saw names like EssenceMediacom, WPP Media, The Coca-Cola Company and Jagran Prakashan emerge as major winners, setting the tone for a high-energy awards season.
The biggest headline of Day 2 belonged to Leo India, which delivered one of the strongest performances of the evening by sweeping multiple specialist honours. The agency secured Direct Specialist Agency of the Year, Technology Specialist Agency of the Year, Health Specialist Agency of the Year, and Digital Specialist Agency of the Year, alongside a Grand Prix win, underlining the breadth of its creative and strategic capabilities.
“We are absolutely thrilled, taking home the Direct Specialist, Technology Specialist, Health Specialist and Digital Specialist Agency of the Year and a Grand Prix tonight. These awards are truly representative of the diverse body of work and amazing talent at Leo. Looking forward to a roaring day 3,” said Amitesh Rao, CEO, Leo South Asia.
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Leo India’s dominance reflected across categories. The agency topped the Direct Specialist rankings with 32 points, led Technology Specialist with 54 points, secured Health Specialist honours with 38 points and emerged Digital Specialist Agency of the Year with a commanding 120 points and 24 metals.
Tribes Communications also had a landmark evening, winning Public Relations Specialist Agency of the Year, a recognition that comes in the agency’s first year in the category. The agency secured 50 points with 11 metals to take the top spot.
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“For us, PR has never been just about visibility, it has always been about building relevance, shaping culture, and creating conversations that leave a lasting impact. This recognition reflects the strength of integrated thinking across our teams and partners who continue to push boundaries with meaningful ideas.
What makes this even more special is that it comes at a time when Indian agencies are proving that creativity backed by insight, innovation, and purpose can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best,” said Gour Gupta, Chairman, Tribes Communications.
The win adds to Tribes Communications’ growing momentum at Goafest after the agency had already made its mark on Day 1, including taking home the Media Grand Prix for ‘The Barefoot Journey’ campaign for Kansai Nerolac Paints.
Among other specialist honours, VML India and BMEG Private Limited were jointly named Design Specialist Agency of the Year, while Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited won Broadcaster of the Year, powered significantly by contributions from Zee Kannada. The specialist agency rankings also showcased strong performances from players including McCann India, Enormous, Mindshare Mumbai, White Rivers Media and BBH Communication India, reflecting the increasingly competitive creative ecosystem.
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As ABBY Awards 2026 continues to unfold at Goafest, Day 2 reinforced one clear trend: agencies are no longer being defined by singular strengths. Increasingly, success belongs to those blending creativity, technology, culture and integrated thinking — and if Day 2 proved anything, it is that Indian agencies are continuing to raise the bar.
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