Top 40: Classic
Ten categories of the year’s best indie work, judged within each category first — then the best compete for the overall Top 40, ranked 1 through 40 and counted down live.
Top 40 is IAN’s awards — indie-made, indie-judged. The year’s best work, and the people and shops behind it, ranked 1 through 40 and revealed across a week of livestreams. There’s room for a handful of partners to help present it.
Forty pieces of the year’s best indie work, ranked and revealed — each with its own video reveal and a link winners share all year — plus 128 more Category Finalists and Awards of Merit across ten categories. Work for brands like E.L.F. and Domino’s, from shops like Oberland and WorkInProgress.
One platform, two celebrations — the work in the first half, the people and shops in the second.
Ten categories of the year’s best indie work, judged within each category first — then the best compete for the overall Top 40, ranked 1 through 40 and counted down live.
The people and shops behind the work — plus the Indie Hall of Fame and, yes, Pet of the Year. Its own categories, its own countdown, its own night.
The countdown runs 40 to 1 across five days of livestreams — a real event indies tune in for, cheer through, and share. Every placement gets a video reveal and a link that travels all year, so the celebration keeps going long after the week ends.
It’s indie all the way through — independent agencies from solo shops to 250+, and every entry earns a Top 40 placement or an Award of Merit. A partner is right there in it: your name on the countdown, live reads through the week, a category to present, winners you helped celebrate.
Real roles across both shows — take the one that fits, or let’s shape something together.
Your name on the whole show and the countdown week — the brand that presents the best of indie.
Present a category and stand with its winners — the partner behind the work in your world.
Own a reveal night across the countdown week — the live reads and the big moment.
Your name on the keepsake report of the year’s best — shared and referenced all year.
Sponsorships start at $5K — tell us how you’d want to show up, and we’ll find your fit. Start the conversation →
Founding Top 40 partner roles are open. Tell us how you’d want to show up, and we’ll build it with you.
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