The agency leaders shaping Europe’s live experience economy
Since 2014, Kongres Magazine has been mapping the most influential leaders in live communication and creative agencies across New Europe. The Top 100 Event Agency Leaders in 2026, created by Kongres Magazine in cooperation with the Unicorn Awards, is the next evolution of that editorial project.
This is not a new ranking for its own sake. It is a sharper, more transparent benchmark of the people behind the agencies: those with creative authority, industry trust, business relevance and lasting European impact.
Every day, two finalists are revealed from the list. The full ranking and PDF brochure will be published on 17 July 2026. At the Unicorn Awards, leading individuals will also receive special recognition.
Each finalist is assessed on a 100-point scale. The final score combines editorial evaluation, public evidence, agency business indicators and external industry signals. As a basic criterion, the methodology also considers the agency’s annual turnover and number of employees when reliable public data are available.
The breakdown of the scores
| Area | Weight | What we look at |
| Leadership & agency fit | 10% | Founder, CEO, director or senior decision-maker role; relevance to meetings, events, DMC, live communication or creative agency work |
| Agency scale & performance | 14% | Team size, business stability, revenue signals, market reach and delivery capacity |
| Awards & market recognition | 16% | Unicorn Awards, BEA World, Eventex and other recognised international proof of excellence |
| Personal visibility & influence | 16% | Thought leadership, communication, speaking roles, jury work and reputation |
| Networks & ecosystem | 10% | Membership or leadership in relevant industry networks, associations and cross-border platforms |
| Creativity, innovation and impact | 15% | Creative formats, experience design, digital or AI enablement, measurable impact and legacy |
| Sustainability & responsibility | 9% | Responsible production, sustainability frameworks, accessibility, DEI and procurement standards |
| Public data quality | 10% | Traceable sources, recent evidence, claim realism and reputational risk control |
The methodology brings together agency performance, leadership profile, European relevance, award recognition, ecosystem validation, creativity, responsible practice and data quality. Special attention is given to New Europe, a region where Kongres Magazine has long identified outstanding talent, original thinking and agencies that often punch far above their market size.
The result is a list built with curiosity, rigour and necessary restraint. It is a portrait of the people and agencies moving Europe’s live and creative industries forward.
Explore more about the Unicorn Awards here.