World Branding Awards Honor Global Icons in Osaka

Global and national brands were celebrated in Osaka for excellence impact and emotional connection.

A Milestone 20th Edition in Japan

The 20th World Branding Awards recognized leading brands from around the world in National, Regional and Global categories for the 2025–2026 cycle.

This year, more than 1,092 brands from 66 countries were nominated for “Brand of the Year” ; However, fewer than 100 emerged as winners.

This underscores how selective the program is. The ceremony left London for the first time. It was staged at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts.

The event welcomed over 80 international guests. It was hosted by Allie Sakakibara and featured a keynote from Miho Noguchi on immersive brand experiences.

Global Tier (Brands with Worldwide Impact)

At the Global level, a small group of names were honored for their influence and consistency across markets.

Winners included IKEA (Sweden), Lurpak (Denmark), Nike (USA), Sennheiser (Germany) and Yakult (Japan).

These brands reflect industries from home and food to sport and audio technology. They were recognized not just for commercial success, but also for how they shape everyday life across continents.

National Tier (Spotlight on Germany and Beyond)

Germany featured prominently among the National winners. Awardees included Birkenstock, Bosch, Drogerie Markt, Edeka, Gardena, Schöner Wohnen, Sennheiser and Volkswagen.

Other National tier winners span an eclectic mix of markets and categories.

They include Absolut (Sweden), Airland (Hong Kong), Boots (United Kingdom), Café Amazon (Thailand), Walkers Crisps (United Kingdom), Evolene and Flimty (Indonesia), Emperador Brandy (Philippines), KOI Thé (Singapore), Munchy’s (Malaysia), Royal Umbrella (Thailand), Spritzer (Malaysia), Tesco (United Kingdom) and Thai Life Insurance (Thailand), among others.

Regional Tier (Brands with Multi Market Reach)

Only 20 brands achieved Regional Tier status, reserved for those with influence across at least four countries in three or more regional markets.

Honorees included Amarula (South Africa), M‑150 (Thailand), MR DIY (Malaysia), Nippon Rent‑A‑Car (Japan), Tsui Wah (Hong Kong), Vitaday (Thailand) and Watsons (Malaysia).

This tier highlights brands that have successfully scaled while maintaining strong local relevance.

“The World Branding Awards goes beyond celebrating success; we spotlight the unwavering effort, vision, and emotional resonance behind it. Every brand is honoured on a global pedestal. They are recognised not just for what they sell, but for what they stand for,” said Mr Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.

More than 91,000 consumers worldwide participated in this year’s nomination process.

On average, only about five winning brands emerged per country. That consumer input and low win rate highlight how significant a World Branding Award is for any recipient.

For those interested in the complete list of winners and more details about the program, the full results are available at awards.brandingforum.org.

Author Profile

Alyssa J. Mann: Alyssa Jade is a international fashion stylist and trend reporter based in Vancouver, Canada. Renowned for her versatile and expansive portfolio, Alyssa has collaborated with a diverse array of professionals, including athletes, political figures, television hosts, and business leaders. Her styling expertise extends across commercial campaigns, fashion editorials, music videos, television productions, fashion shows, and bridal fashion.