Best Advertising Agencies in New York (2026)

Introduction

The 14 advertising agencies below are among the strongest in New York in 2026, a mix of holding-company network offices and independents. They were chosen for recent campaigns, 2025 and 2026 awards, and the depth of their client rosters.

Most of the big networks reorganised over the past eighteen months. Omnicom completed its acquisition of IPG at the end of 2025, retired DDB, FCB and MullenLowe, and in April 2026 combined adam&eveDDB New York and 180 into a new agency, Lola USA. WPP placed Ogilvy, VML, AKQA and Grey under a single WPP Creative umbrella while keeping each brand. Publicis had already merged Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide into Leo in early 2025. At Cannes Lions 2026, VML New York was second in Agency of the Year and Isle of Any second among independents.

Every agency here has an active New York office in 2026. The list is unranked, since the right agency depends on your brief, budget and the kind of relationship you want. Several well-known New York shops, such as Droga5, Mischief and BBDO New York, appear on our creative agencies list instead.

The best advertising agencies in New York

1. VML New York

WPP · New York · vml.com

VML New York is the New York flagship of WPP's VML network, and it was the most awarded US office at Cannes Lions 2026, with 24 Lions, a Titanium Lion and second place in Agency of the Year. The One Show named it Agency of the Year in 2026. Jason Xenopoulos became CEO of the office in January 2026, with Mel Routhier as North America chief creative officer.

Recent work includes "OREO Cows" for Mondelēz (with VML Mexico), "The KitKat Heist" with Burson, which won a PR Grand Prix, and "Beat Cancer Off" for F Cancer. Ford and Colgate are among the global accounts run from New York.

2. McCann New York

Omnicom · New York · mccann.com

McCann New York is the headquarters of the McCann network, which moved into Omnicom with the IPG acquisition and is one of its three main advertising networks. Former FCB global creative leader Danilo Boer joined McCann as global creative partner after FCB was retired, and Shobha Sairam was named the New York office's chief strategy officer in February 2026.

The office won 10 Lions at Cannes in 2026, third among US agencies, including a Gold for Huggies. It worked with BBDO and Instacart's in-house team on Instacart's 2026 Super Bowl campaign, and its roster includes Mastercard and Xbox. The agency still works under its line "Truth Well Told".

3. TBWA\Chiat\Day New York

Omnicom · New York · tbwachiatdayny.com

TBWA\Chiat\Day New York is the East Coast office of TBWA's US flagship, built around the network's "Disruption" methodology. TBWA absorbed most of the retired DDB and MullenLowe agencies worldwide and finished third in Network of the Year at Cannes Lions 2026. In 2026 TBWA\Chiat\Day was also inducted into the Association of Music Producers Hall of Fame.

Clients include Nissan (its long-running "Heisman House" work), Hilton, whose "The Ad You Stay In" spread widely on TikTok, LG, Carnival Cruise Line, Wells Fargo and Travelers. The office has in-house design, B2B, social and innovation teams.

4. Ogilvy New York

WPP · New York · ogilvy.com

Ogilvy's New York office sits inside the network that won Network of the Year at Cannes Lions 2026, its third such title in five years, as well as at The One Show 2026. Laurent Ezekiel became global CEO of Ogilvy Group in September 2025. Grey has reported into Ogilvy since May 2025, and both now sit under WPP Creative.

The New York office has handled Google Pixel, Verizon and Walmart work in recent years. Ogilvy is a sound choice for clients who want advertising, PR, influence and consulting from one network.

5. Grey New York

WPP, reporting into Ogilvy · Financial District · grey.com

Grey New York works from 3 World Trade Center and remains its own brand within WPP. It won a Gold at Cannes Lions 2026 for Corona's "Lime Guides", and its network took a Creative Data Grand Prix through Circus Grey in Peru. Agnes Fischer was promoted to US CEO in December 2025, when Samira Ansari joined as US chief creative officer.

Mary Kay named Grey New York its global agency of record in December 2025, and the Almond Board of California appointed it the same month. Long-standing clients include P&G brands such as Pantene, along with Modelo and Applebee's.

6. DAVID New York

WPP, part of the Ogilvy network · New York · davidtheagency.com

DAVID is a creative agency within the Ogilvy network, and its New York office has become one of the most awarded in the city. At Cannes Lions 2026 it won the Entertainment Lions for Gaming Grand Prix and was named Agency of the Year in Entertainment.

The Grand Prix went to "Copycats Welcome" for Supercell's Clash Royale, which turned players' progress in copycat games into rewards. The office, where André Toledo is chief creative officer, also made the game's tenth anniversary film.

7. BBH USA

Publicis Groupe · Hudson Square · bartleboglehegarty.com

BBH USA runs from 375 Hudson Street and is the US arm of the London-founded agency, now owned by Publicis Groupe. It made Ad Age's A-List top ten for the second year running in 2026, and chief creative officer Erica Roberts was Ad Age's 2025 Chief Creative Officer of the Year. In February 2026 BBH introduced its first major rebrand in 44 years.

The client list includes PayPal, Visa, Arby's, Macy's, Grey Goose and Goodyear. Steven Panariello, formerly of BBDO New York, is CEO.

8. Leo New York

Publicis Groupe · New York · leoburnett.com

Leo New York was formed in 2025 when Publicis merged Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide, renaming Publicis New York in the process. Javier Campopiano joined in June 2026 as chief creative officer for the Americas and Iberia, and Nikki Maizel is president.

Recent work includes Walmart's holiday and World Cup campaigns, Coffee mate and Quest Nutrition. The office won Subway's US creative business in April 2025, then lost it to The Martin Agency in August 2026.

9. Lola USA

Omnicom · Midtown East · holalola.com

Lola USA launched in April 2026, combining 180 US and adam&eveDDB New York, which itself was formed from DDB New York in 2023. It brings the Madrid-born Lola brand to the US for the first time, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. CEO Agathe Guerrier and chief creative officer JD Jurentkuff lead it, and about half the staff work in creative roles.

The inherited roster includes adidas, Porsche, Disney, Molson Coors, JetBlue and McCain. Because the agency is new, ask which team, and which legacy agency, will run your business.

10. Isle of Any

Independent · SoHo · isleofany.com

Laurie Howell and Toby Treyer-Evans founded Isle of Any in early 2025, and within eighteen months it finished second in Independent Agency of the Year at Cannes Lions 2026. It also appears on Ad Age's 2026 A-List.

Most of its best-known work is for Coinbase: the "System Update" campaign built on the blue screen of death, a Super Bowl spot, and "Your Way Out", which won the Film Craft Grand Prix at Cannes in 2026. The Oscars spot was directed by Oscar Hudson through MJZ.

11. Terri & Sandy

Independent, woman-owned · Murray Hill · terrisandy.com

Sandy Greenberg and Terri Meyer founded Terri & Sandy in 2015. Ad Age named it Independent Agency of the Year for 2025, the year it reported its highest revenue, and it is on the 2026 A-List. Amy Ferguson, formerly chief creative officer at TBWA\Chiat\Day, joined as its first CCO in October 2025, and John Gibson arrived from The Martin Agency as its first chief strategy officer in April 2026.

Clients include Freshpet, Revlon, Princess Cruises, Welch's, Mars' Kevin's Natural Foods and My/Mochi. The agency has around 50 staff and runs its own AI platform, Athena.

12. Zulu Alpha Kilo New York

Independent · Williamsburg · zulualphakilo.com

Toronto's Zulu Alpha Kilo opened in New York in 2022, its first office outside Canada, and now works from the Domino Refinery building in Williamsburg. Tim Gordon is CCO and partner, and in December 2025 the office hired its first executive producer, Kelly Mikhael, from Johannes Leonardo.

New York clients include Booking.com, Harry's and Stonefire. Earlier work from the office includes Dove's #ChangeTheCompliment and "The Mannings" for The New York Times.

13. Special US

Independent (Special Group) · New York · specialgroup.com

Special Group started in Australia and opened in New York in November 2022. Adweek named Special US its Breakthrough Agency of the Year for 2025, and at Cannes Lions 2026 it won the Media Grand Prix for Uber Eats' "Build Your Own Super Bowl Commercial". Shannon Nunn is president of Special New York, and Kasia Canning and Estefanio Holtz became co-executive creative directors in January 2026.

Special US doubled its team in 2025 and works with Instagram, Meta, Bumble, Target, Fox Sports, Hanes and Uber Eats.

14. Rethink

Independent · Dumbo · rethinkideas.com

Rethink is a Canadian independent that opened its New York office in late 2021 and now works from 55 Water Street in Dumbo. Adweek named it Independent Agency of the Year for 2025, and at Cannes Lions 2026 it won both Independent Agency of the Year and Independent Network of the Year.

Much of the awarded work comes from Toronto, so check how the New York team is staffed. The agency is known for long-running work for IKEA, Heinz and Kraft, and Molson Coors.

What to look for in a New York advertising agency

Ownership comes first. Network offices such as VML, McCann and BBH can draw on media buying, production and offices in dozens of markets. Independents such as Terri & Sandy or Isle of Any usually give clients more time with senior people, and their founders often work on the account.

After the 2025 and 2026 restructurings, ask what has changed. Several agencies on this list have new names, new owners or new leadership teams, and some accounts moved between offices during the mergers. Ask who will lead your business, how long they have been there, and which legacy team they came from.

Look at the work in your category, and at its results. Awards show craft, but effectiveness rankings such as the Effies show whether campaigns moved sales or brand measures. Ask for case studies with numbers, and for client references you can call.

Finally, ask how the agency runs production and approvals. Advertising work passes through many hands: scripts, storyboards, rough cuts, final edits, cut-downs and legal reviews. Agencies with one clear place for files and feedback make it easier to keep versions straight and to get sign-off on time.

How Fabric helps advertising agency teams

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best advertising agency in New York?

It depends on the brief. On 2026 awards, VML New York was the most awarded US office at Cannes Lions and The One Show's Agency of the Year. Isle of Any was the second-ranked independent agency at Cannes, and DAVID New York was Agency of the Year in Entertainment.

What happened to DDB New York?

DDB New York merged with adam&eveNYC in 2023 to form adam&eveDDB. After Omnicom retired the DDB brand, adam&eveDDB New York and 180 were combined into Lola USA in April 2026.

What happened to Publicis New York and Leo Burnett?

Publicis Groupe merged Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide into one network, Leo, in January 2025. Publicis New York became Leo New York.

Is Grey still a separate agency?

Yes. Grey has reported into Ogilvy since May 2025, and both sit under WPP Creative, which WPP formed in 2026. WPP has said Grey, Ogilvy, VML and AKQA continue to operate under their own names.

What is the difference between an advertising agency and a creative agency?

The terms overlap a good deal. Advertising agencies tend to focus on paid campaigns across TV, digital, social and outdoor, often with media planning close by. For brand platforms, experiences and broader creative work, see our list of the best creative agencies in New York.

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