Social Media Excellence Award 2026

Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) and Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Tourism Association (ABHTA), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Investment

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) and
Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Tourism Association (ABHTA),
in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Investment,
are inviting content creators and social media storytellers to submit their work for the
2026 Social Media Excellence Award.

The Award recognizes creators who use their platforms to authentically showcase
Antigua and Barbuda as a destination through Carnival, Sailing Week, Art Week,
our culinary scene, our 365 beaches, Barbuda, and the everyday moments that make
the islands worth visiting.

This year’s call is open to a wider pool of creators than previous cycles.

Key Dates

  • Submissions open: August 31, 2026
  • Submissions close: September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM
  • Adjudication period: Three weeks, concluding by October 23, 2026
  • Winner announced: November 2026

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for submission, creators must meet the following requirements:

  • Residency:
    The creator must be a resident of Antigua and Barbuda.
  • Platform reach:
    A minimum of 3,000 followers on at least one platform — Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
  • Destination focus:
    The creator must produce Antigua and Barbuda destination-related content, including
    travel, food, culture, experiences, hidden gems, events, or practical travel tips.
    General lifestyle content that does not centre Antigua and Barbuda as a destination
    does not qualify.
  • Recency:
    Submitted content must have been produced within the past 12 months,
    from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026.
  • Consistency:
    Creators must demonstrate an ongoing pattern of destination-related content,
    with a minimum of two destination-related posts per month
    across the eligibility period, rather than a single viral moment.
  • Originality and rights:
    Content must be the creator’s own original work, and the creator must hold,
    or be able to grant, usage rights for promotional use by ABTA.
  • Conduct and content standards:
    Creators must maintain a public-facing platform that is free of profanity,
    indecent, hateful, or discriminatory language. This requirement applies both
    to submitted entries and to the creator’s broader public content history.
    Strong engagement numbers do not override this requirement. ABTA and the Ministry
    are selecting official representatives of the destination, not solely high-reach accounts.

How to Submit

Select three (3) pieces of content created between
September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, then complete and submit
the official application form by
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA)
 · 
Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Tourism Association (ABHTA)
 · 
Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Investment

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