DDMA today announces the nominees for the awards presented during the DDMA Email Marketing Automation Summit 2026 (EMAS), the annual awards recognising the best achievements in email marketing and marketing automation. The winners will be revealed on June 11, 2026, during EMAS at Circa Amsterdam.
This year, the EMAS Awards will be presented in two categories: Email Marketing Automation Excellence and Young Talent of the Year, alongside the creative agency competition Battle of the Agencies. All entries were reviewed by an independent expert jury of email marketing professionals.
The jury, chaired by Milou Steenvoorden (ING), was impressed by the quality and diversity of the submissions: “It was inspiring to review all the cases. The broad diversity of cases and talents positively surprised us. It clearly shows the level of quality and creativity within the field, both now and looking ahead to the future. We are curious to hear the stories behind the cases and very much look forward to meeting the nominees during the jury day.”
EMAS Awards 2026 Nominees
Email Marketing Automation Excellence
• Catawiki
• Kampeerhal Roden
• Harman EMEA Consumer Lifestyle Division (JBL)
Young Talent of the Year
• Eveline van Hal – bol.com
• Wout Jansen – Merkle
• Sharon van Arum – Pets Place
A notable highlight this year is the high number of submissions in the Young Talent category, underlining the growing enthusiasm and engagement of young professionals in the field.
Judith Oude Sogtoen, Director of DDMA:
“It’s great to see how actively young talent is contributing to the field. The number and quality of submissions show that email marketing still holds a unique position within the marketing mix and continues to evolve. This new generation brings fresh ideas and energy that are essential for the future of our industry.”
Battle of the Agencies
The nominees for the Battle of the Agencies have been selected by this year’s client, Pink Gellac. The following agencies will take on the challenge:
- Funnelboost
• Merkle
• Yellowgrape
The selection was based on criteria such as creativity, storytelling, and the ability to translate Pink Gellac’s strategic challenges into strong email concepts. The agencies will further develop their campaigns in the coming weeks and present them live on stage during EMAS 2026.
EMAS Jury
The jury, chaired by Milou Steenvoorden (ING), consisted of Niels van Meerte Janse and Alexandra Stuij as part of the general jury, complemented by category-specific experts. Jill Steffen and Kevin Duijndam evaluated the Email Marketing Automation Excellence cases, while Renske Schippers de Koning was responsible for assessing the Young Talent category. Together, they combined their expertise to evaluate submissions on strategy, creativity, impact, and execution.
About DDMA
DDMA is the largest trade association for marketing and data in the Netherlands. We represent a network of over 360 brands, non-profits, agencies, tech providers and publishers who aim to use data responsibly and effectively for marketing purposes. DDMA facilitates knowledge sharing, networking, and acts as a dialogue partner for policymakers and regulators.