ITC Aashirvaad, McCann win inaugural Grand Shark at ET Shark Awards 2026
The 8th edition named 175 winners, with ITC Aashirvaad and McCann taking the inaugural Grand Shark. MARS Cosmetics, Godrej Appliances, UltraTech, Britannia and other consumer brands were honored, signaling a shift toward digital-first, insight-led Indian marketing.
What happened
Aashirvaad (ITC) · ET Shark Awards 2026 named winners across 175 categories. ITC Aashirvaad and McCann won the inaugural Grand Shark; MARS Cosmetics, Godrej
Key facts
- 175 winners
- 8th edition
Why this matters
McCann's Grand Shark and the recognition of brands like MARS Cosmetics and Godrej Appliances highlight agencies and consumer names gaining creative momentum worth watching for partnership or acquisition interest.
What to watch
- New agency pitch wins or account moves citing the Grand Shark win
- Aashirvaad campaign extension or media spend increase announcements
- Competitor FMCG digital-first campaign launches within 90 days
- Sales/market-share data from awarded brands in upcoming quarterly reports
- Industry commentary framing 2026 as digital-first inflection for Indian marketing
- Track McCann and ITC press amplification and case-study rollouts over next 4-6 weeks
- Monitor competing FMCG brands (HUL, Nestle, Dabur) for agency reviews or campaign relaunches
- Watch for ad-spend reallocation signals in Q1-Q2 2026 brand budgets toward digital/insight platforms
- Assess whether other award-winning brands publicize wins to lift retail brand equity
Also reported by
- ET Brand Equity — Same time