Eight awards, two shortlists and the Independent Agency of the Year title. Golden Drum 2026 turned into a historic night for hasan & partners.
At the Golden Drum International Festival of Creativity in Portorož, Slovenia, hasan & partners was named Independent Agency of the Year 2026, marking a major milestone for the Helsinki-based independent creative agency. Golden Drum is one of Europe’s leading creative festivals and is included in the WARC Creative 100 rankings, which recognise the world’s most awarded creative work, agencies and networks.
The recognition followed an exceptional performance by The Banned Collection, created together with Naisten Linja. The campaign took home four Gold Drums, three Silver Drums and the festival’s first-ever UNFPA Inclusion Excellence Award.
The Banned Collection was created to challenge the restrictions imposed by social media platforms on content addressing violence against women. By turning censored messages into wearable statements, the campaign demonstrated how creativity can overcome media barriers and amplify voices that might otherwise remain unheard.
Beyond the awards, the campaign has become a permanent part of Naisten Linja’s fundraising efforts, proving that a powerful creative idea can deliver lasting impact.
Independent by choice. World-class by ambition.
For hasan & partners, the Independent Agency of the Year title is more than an award. It is recognition of the agency’s commitment to putting creativity at the centre of everything it does.
“We are an independent challenger agency from the cold North, competing against the biggest international agency networks. And doing pretty well. This recognition belongs to every single person at hasan & partners. We have never chosen the easiest route, and we never will. The best possible creative outcome always comes first. This award proves that uncompromising creativity pays off, even when the journey isn’t always easy,” says Riku Vassinen, CEO of hasan & partners.
The Golden Drum success follows international recognition at the London International Awards earlier this autumn and further strengthens the agency’s position on the international creative stage.
