Events

Rakuten Optimism Golden Link Awards 2026 | Nominations Now Open!

The 2026 Rakuten Optimism Golden Link Award nominations are officially open! Help us honor the best and brightest in affiliate marketing by submitting a nomination today. The Golden Link Awards will take place at Optimism 2026, register today to secure your spot to Optimism and the Golden Link Awards!

Golden Link Awards

The Rakuten Advertising Golden Link Awards bring together advertisers, publishers, and agencies to celebrate excellence and innovation in affiliate marketing. The 2026 Rakuten Optimism Golden Link Awards will take place on Tuesday, May 5, at the Arizona Biltmore, during Optimism 2026, and are now open to all attendees! This year’s theme is a Golden Age Gala, so get ready to celebrate your wins!

Read through the full award descriptions prior to submitting your nomination to ensure your entry stands out from the rest! Be sure to check out last year’s Golden Link Awards winners for inspiration and see how your nomination can stand out.

The Rakuten Optimism Golden Link Awards – Official 2026 Categories:

  • Top Performing New Advertisers *New for 2026, no entry required*
  • Best Influencer Campaign
  • Best Campaign Optimization
  • Best Global Campaign
  • Best Collaboration
  • Best Collaboration with Rakuten
  • Affiliate Team of the Year
  • Advertiser of the Year
  • Publisher of the Year
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

Submit your nomination today!

Important Dates for the Golden Link Awards:

  • Nominations Close: March 20th, 2026
  • Finalists announced: April 3rd, 2026
  • Golden Link Awards Ceremony: May 5th, 2026

Winners will be announced at our Golden Link Awards ceremony during Rakuten Optimism 2026. Registration is now live, register now to secure your spot at THE networking event of the year.

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Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten Advertising leads the industry in delivering performance-driven ad solutions that help the world’s top brands connect with unique, highly engaged audiences – from first impression to final sale.

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