For the second consecutive year, WesBank has renewed its partnership as the Headline Partner for the 2026 New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards. The collaboration underscores WesBank’s commitment to driving progressive growth by celebrating digital innovation, strategic excellence, and creative bravery across South Africa’s marketing landscape. Together, this continued partnership promises to elevate the 2026 event experience to unprecedented heights.
To celebrate the partnership, the awards will be rebranded as The WesBank New Generation Awards through May 2027.
The New Generation Awards announces WesBank as its official Headline Naming Sponsor.
The WesBank New Generation Awards. “We move with You.”
"We are thrilled to team up with WesBank once again," says Stephen Paxton, Founder of the New Generation Awards. Over 14 game-changing years, the New Generation Awards have grown from a bold concept into the undisputed springboard for South Africa’s most fearless digital trailblazers. We serve as the crucible where emerging talent proves its mettle, legacy brands reinvent themselves, and social-first creativity transforms into tangible market authority. WesBank’s 50-year track record of adaptability perfectly mirrors our mission: honoring those who challenge norms and drive real impact. This collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to empowering the next generation of marketers, creatives, and digital leaders."
"At WesBank, we believe progress is driven by people and ideas that challenge convention and create meaningful impact, says Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank. The New Generation Awards shine a spotlight on the marketers, creators, innovators, and businesses shaping South Africa’s digital future through bold thinking and strategic execution. We’re proud to renew our partnership and help celebrate the individuals and organisations setting new benchmarks for innovation, customer engagement, and digital excellence.”
WesBank has proudly sponsored the following 15 categories:
- Best Social Media Reach from an Event / Activation
- Best Community Engagement Campaign by a Corporate
- Excellence in Content Marketing by a Corporate
- Best Online PR Campaign by a Corporate
- Best Integrated Marketing Campaign by a Corporate
- Most Viral Campaign by a Corporate
- Best Use of Social Media to Research & Evaluate
- Best CRM Strategy Campaign by a Corporate
- Best Use of Technical Innovation by an Agency
- Best Use of AI in Marketing Campaign by an Agency
- Best Marketing Automation Campaign
- The Black Onyx Best Customer Experience CX Campaign of the Year
- The Black Onyx Digital Brand of the Year
- The Black Onyx Online Strategy of the Year
- The Black Onyx Social & Digital Corporate of the Year
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The New Generation Awards stand as South Africa’s premier independent recognition platform for social-first marketing, digital innovation, AI, and creative technology. For 14 years, New Gen has benchmarked industry excellence—processing over 6,500 entries across corporate, agency, and emerging talent spaces, and awarding more than 1,700 trophies to the campaigns defining our digital future. To win at New Gen isn't just to take home a trophy—it’s to set the industry’s new baseline for digital excellence.
Across 60 specialized categories, we celebrate the visionaries who seamlessly blend human connection with advanced tech. We highlight the strategists redefining modern brands, driving deep cultural relevance, and unlocking unprecedented ROI through disruptive creative strategy. Modern Marketing is proud to serve as the official media partner for the
awards.
Witness the evolution of the awards at our most immersive Johannesburg ceremony yet!
“The 2026 Awards Gala marks a bold new era for the New Gen legacy. We have refined every detail to create a sleeker, sharper, and more impactful ceremony that honours the pace of the digital world. New Gen is shedding the traditional to embrace the dynamic, creating a stage dedicated to the work and people behind it. Mark your calendars for September 23rd at NH Sandton, in their newly transformed event space, which is set to become one of Sandton's most talked-about event destinations. This is the night Johannesburg witnesses the pinnacle of South African digital achievement.”
The official 2026 WesBank New Generation Awards finalists will be announced on Wednesday, 26 August, via Modern Marketing.
For more information and to book seats to attend this year’s awards gala ceremony, click HERE
