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.
Talk to usSee who took it home in past shows.