2026 ECAA Submissions Are Open!
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- 3 hours ago
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The time has come to share your work and the impact behind the events you bring to life. Submissions are now open for the Emerald City Applause Awards (ECAAs), ILEA Seattle’s annual celebration of excellence in live events.
For years, the Emerald City Applause Awards have recognized the people, teams, and ideas shaping how our community gathers. The awards honor creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful execution. They also highlight the leadership required to deliver meaningful experiences across the Pacific Northwest.
The Emerald City Applause Awards 2026 will take place on March 25, 2026, at Block 41. Submitting your work is an opportunity to be part of that story and to help showcase the depth of talent within our region.
Submitting to the ECAAs is about more than winning an award. It is about visibility and recognition. Finalists and winners gain industry acknowledgment, increased brand credibility, and expanded professional reach. Most importantly, submissions help tell the story of the positive impact live events have on our communities.
Many professionals hesitate to submit because they are unsure where they fit. Common questions include which category to choose, what judges value, and whether an event is “award-worthy.” Judges look beyond scale and budget. They evaluate intention, problem-solving, creativity, execution, and impact.
The submission process is designed to be clear and accessible, but we understand that you may need some help, and that’s okay!
Here you will find eligibility requirements, category descriptions, scoring criteria, and timelines.
This is where you will upload materials and share the story behind your work.
Early bird submission pricing is available now and ends at midnight on Thursday, January 8th. Submitting early allows for reduced entry fees and provides more time to prepare a thoughtful submission.
To support submitters, ILEA Seattle is hosting Entry Glow-Up: ECAA Edition, an education-focused event dedicated entirely to ECAA submissions. On January 21st at 5:00 PM, join us at Rooftop at Railspur. Past and present ECAA winners will share insight into category selection, the judging process, and how to communicate impact clearly through an interactive panel discussion and Q&A session. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring questions to ask our experienced panel of recipients.
The Emerald City Applause Awards reflect the values of our industry. Each submission helps document creativity, resilience, and care. Together, these stories strengthen our community and elevate the work we do.
We look forward to seeing the events you choose to share.
Presented by ILEA Seattle
Written by Erica Kennedy | Z Creative + Design Co.
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