Awards
RuPaul wins best reality host for fifth year in a row
MUMBAI: RuPaul won for outstanding host for a reality or competition program at Creative Arts Emmys, breaking Jeff Probst's previous record for wins in the category with a fifth straight Emmy.
RuPaul in a pre-recorded video speech thanked the Academy adding, "every time I bat my false eyelashes I'm making a political statement. Tonight, the only political statement I want to make is this: love. Love for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, love for Black queens and brown queens and love for the United States of America where a little gay boy with nothing more than a pussycat wig and a dream can build an international platform that celebrates sweet sensitive souls everywhere."
RuPaul also included a call to vote on 3 November with a twist on his signature line: "The time has come for you to vote for your life!” He dedicated his Emmy to Drag Race alum Chi Chi DeVayne, who died on Aug 20.
This year, RuPaul was up against Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman (Making It), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio (Top Chef), Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye), Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, and Robert Herjavec (Shark Tank). RuPaul's Drag Race was nominated for a total of 10 Emmys this year.
The winners were announced as part of the five-night virtual Creative Arts Emmys event, hosted by Byer. The Primetime Emmys will follow on Sunday, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel from an audience-less Staples Center.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
