Licensing Industry Celebrates Record Year of Innovation at 2026 ANZ Excellence Awards
Licensing International ANZ
Licensing industry worth 374 billion globally. 13.4 billion in Australia ( 2024)
Sales continue to grow at 4.59% annually versus non-licensed sales at 3.7%
There is no formal education for people entering the industry in either Australia or overseas.
KPop Demon Hunters, Bridgerton, Batman and Hello Kitty among the winners as licensing delivers outstanding commercial results and new consumer experiences. Industry pioneers Tom Punch and Yvonne King inducted into Hall of Fame.
MELBOURNE, 30 October 2026: The Australian and New Zealand licensing industry's most creative brands, products and partnerships were celebrated last night at the 2026 Licensing International ANZ Excellence Awards, presented by The Merchantwise Group, at Crown Melbourne.
With a record 132 entries, approximately 20% more than the previous year, and 68 finalists, the Awards recognised excellence across 12 categories, showcasing the commercial strength, creativity and innovation driving the licensing industry.
From the phenomenal success of Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters to innovative partnerships bringing iconic brands into completely new product categories, the winners demonstrated how licensing continues to create fresh opportunities for businesses and memorable experiences for consumers.
Among the standout achievements recognised were:
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Blind Box, which sold out all 5,000 premium collectible units, with direct-to-consumer stock disappearing in just 45 minutes.
- Hello Kitty and Friends Cafés, which brought the beloved character brand to permanent café destinations in Melbourne and Queensland, generating more than 6.37 million in campaign reach.
- Minions, whose nationwide retail campaign transformed more than 1,400 convenience stores into branded destinations, with over 800,000 projected unit sales and $5 million in media value.
- Streets and The Collagen Co, which successfully extended iconic Australian ice cream flavours into premium beauty nutrition products.
- The Met by CAMILLA, a collaboration between Australian luxury fashion and one of the world's leading art museums, turning more than 5,000 years of art into wearable luxury.
Lisa Sweeney, Managing Director of Licensing International Australia and New Zealand, said the results reflect the increasing sophistication and commercial potential of brand licensing.
"Licensing is no longer simply about putting a popular character on a product. It is about creating meaningful collaborations, connecting with consumers in new ways and unlocking opportunities for brands to grow beyond their traditional markets.
"What is particularly exciting about this year's winners is the diversity of innovation, from premium fashion inspired by fine art to nostalgic ice cream brands entering the beauty and wellness market, and entertainment properties creating immersive retail experiences.
"With record entries and an exceptionally strong field of finalists, the Awards are a wonderful reflection of the creativity, commercial expertise and collaborative spirit of our industry."
2026 Hall of Fame Honourees: Tom Punch and Yvonne King
One of the evening's most significant moments was the induction of Tom Punch and Yvonne King into the Licensing International ANZ Hall of Fame, recognising their outstanding contributions to the industry's development over more than three decades.
Their journey began 36 years ago with a rented office, two rented computers and an ambitious vision for the future. Together, they have built an enduring licensing business, forging valuable partnerships and helping develop the licensing industry across Australia and New Zealand.
Their induction recognises not only their commercial achievements, but also their entrepreneurial leadership, resilience and contribution to the broader industry community.
"Tom and Yvonne are wonderful examples of what can be achieved through vision, determination and strong relationships. Their contribution extends far beyond their own business to the people, brands and partnerships they have helped develop over the years," said Sweeney.
"The Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to our industry, and both Tom and Yvonne are thoroughly deserving of this recognition."
2026 Licensing International ANZ Excellence Award Winners
Best Licensed Product for Softlines
The Met by CAMILLA | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, WP Brands and CAMILLA
Australian luxury fashion house CAMILLA collaborated with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to transform more than 5,000 years of artistic inspiration into wearable luxury. The first-of-its-kind collaboration combined The Met's extraordinary collection with CAMILLA's signature prints, intricate embellishments and handcrafted designs, demonstrating the creative possibilities of bringing art and fashion together.
Best Licensee
Caprice Australia
Caprice Australia was recognised for licensing innovation, strong industry partnerships and outstanding commercial performance. Its ability to create trend-led products, develop new retail opportunities and deliver growth across multiple brands, including Disney, demonstrates the important role licensees play in bringing brands to consumers.
Best Retail Marketing Campaign
Minions | Universal Products and Experiences, OTR, Shell Reddy Express and Viva Energy
The Minions campaign transformed more than 1,400 convenience stores into immersive retail destinations through collectibles, merchandise, themed food and beverages, and nationwide marketing. The campaign achieved over 800,000 projected unit sales and $5 million in media value, demonstrating how entertainment licensing can drive engagement across an extensive retail network.
Best Retailer
EB Games & Zing Pop Culture
EB Games & Zing Pop Culture was recognised for bringing fandoms to life through immersive retail experiences, innovative merchandise and customer engagement. From Harry Potter and Pokémon to Star Wars, Superman and Wicked: For Good, the retailer continues to create meaningful connections between consumers and their favourite entertainment properties.
Best Teen and Adult's Brand of the Year
KPop Demon Hunters | Netflix and Merchantwise Licensing
From breakout Netflix sensation to licensing phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters captured the imagination of consumers through its blend of music, fantasy and fashion. Strong demand, expanding product categories and retail success across Australia and New Zealand established the property as one of the year's most exciting teen and adult licensing programmes.
Children's Brand of the Year
Jurassic Park | Universal Products and Experiences
The enduring global entertainment property Jurassic Park took home Children's Brand of the Year, demonstrating the continuing appeal and commercial strength of established entertainment franchises across generations.
Corporate, Food and Beverage Brand of the Year
Bundaberg Rum | Diageo and Asembl Brands
Iconic Australian brand Bundaberg Rum was recognised in the Corporate, Food and Beverage category, highlighting the continued relevance of established consumer brands within the licensing industry.
Best FMCG Brand of the Year
Streets The Collagen Co | The Magnum Ice Cream Company, The Collagen Co and Asembl Brands
This innovative collaboration reimagined iconic Australian ice cream flavours as premium Glow Shakes, taking familiar freezer-aisle favourites into the emerging beauty nutrition market. The partnership demonstrated how licensing can extend heritage brands into unexpected consumer categories while generating strong marketplace demand.
Best Licensed Product for Hardlines
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Blind Box | Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products and Agoro
This premium collectible range combined pure silver and gold with innovative blind-box mechanics and tiered rarity. All 5,000 units sold out, with direct-to-consumer stock disappearing within just 45 minutes. Strong collector demand and secondary-market activity demonstrated the potential for premium licensed collectibles.
Best Live Experiences & Events
Hello Kitty and Friends Café | Sanrio, Haven Global and Pop Retail Enterprises
Australia's first Hello Kitty and Friends Cafés brought one of the world's most recognisable character brands to permanent hospitality destinations at Melbourne Central and Pacific Fair. Combining immersive experiences, food, retail and fan engagement, the cafés achieved more than 6.37 million in campaign reach and established an innovative model for licensed experiential retail.
Rising Star
Emily Gale | Universal Products and Experiences
Emily Gale was recognised as the 2026 Rising Star, celebrating the emerging talent helping shape the next generation of the licensing industry.
Best Sport, Fashion, Celebrity & Lifestyle Brand of the Year
Bridgerton | Netflix and Merchantwise Licensing
Netflix's Bridgerton transformed Regency-era romance into a contemporary lifestyle phenomenon across Australia and New Zealand. Through fashion, beauty, homewares, experiences and brand collaborations, the property extended its distinctive aesthetic beyond the screen and into consumers' everyday lives, creating a premium and culturally relevant licensing platform.
An Industry Built on Collaboration
The 2026 Awards highlighted the increasingly diverse nature of licensing, with winning entries spanning entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, beauty, precious-metal collectibles, hospitality and retail.
The introduction of the Best Licensee category this year further recognised the importance of the businesses responsible for transforming licensed intellectual property into products that reach consumers.
"Behind every successful licensed product or campaign are people who understand brands, consumers, retail and the power of collaboration," said Sweeney.
"Our winners demonstrate that licensing can open doors to new markets, create genuine commercial value and bring brands to life in ways that consumers find exciting and relevant.
"Congratulations to every winner and finalist for contributing to the continued growth and success of our industry."
Media enquiries:
Lisa Sweeney
Managing Director, Licensing International Australia & New Zealand
MD ANZ Licensing International
+61409441816
About us:
About Licensing International
Licensing International has been at the centre of the multi-billion-dollar worldwide brand licensing industry for more than 35 years, helping companies profitably grow their businesses through an unparalleled network of information and membership.
Smart licensing is the fastest and most profitable way to grow a business and maximize brand value in any industry. That is why, every day, Licensing International works to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large.
Business in Heels will be delivering the event on behalf of Licensing International
Contact details:
Lisa Sweeney
MD Licensing International
Mob 0409441816
