2026 DealMaker Australia Golden Link Awards | Winners Announced

Harbour views, a room full of the region’s sharpest performance marketers, and a night that had been a year in the making. The APAC Golden Link Awards 2026 closed DealMaker Australia at Doltone House in Pyrmont, where modern glamour met sophisticated elegance — and the industry’s best work finally got its moment on stage.

The 2026 awards spanned 13 categories, which celebrates our partner brands who are outthinking their competition – every single time. Nominations were open to all APAC advertisers and publishers, and also included three peer-nominated categories, giving everyone on our network the chance to tell us who their affiliate champions are. The quality and quantity of entries certainly didn’t make it easy for our judges, so we’d like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to our esteemed panel: 

• Gai Le Roy, CEO, IAB Australia 
• Rad Mitic, Head of Brand Advocacy, Yotpo
• Huw Griffiths, eCommerce and industry leader 

We are thrilled to reveal the winners of the APAC Golden Link Awards 2026 below. 

The APAC Golden Link Awards 2026 Winners 

Advertiser of the Year: Liquorland (Coles Liquor Group)

Publisher of the Year: Qantas Shopping

Partnership of the Year: Bonds x PokitPal

Affiliate Manager of the Year (Advertiser): Tim Beale (Dyson)

Affiliate Manager of the Year (Publisher): Jade Dang (ShopBack)

Best Content Partnership: Linkby x Dyson

Best International Strategy: Cotton On x UNiDAYS

The Outperform and Outthink Award: Estee Lauder x UpSellit

Best New to Channel Advertiser: Cathay Pacific

Best New & Notable Publisher: EatClub

Publishers’ Choice: Dyson

Advertisers’ Choice: Reward Gateway

Rakuten Advertising Rep of the Year: Ellie Hughes

Congratulations to all the winners of the APAC Golden Link Awards 2026. We are proud to celebrate your achievements and contributions. 

Here’s to another year of excellence and groundbreaking achievements!