Each year, the CLIO Awards appoints an average of 115 top creatives from 65 countries to nine distinct CLIO Juries. Juries are comprised of individuals whose own work epitomizes the vanguard in their respective fields, ensuring that each juror has a profound understanding of the global market’s ever-evolving dynamics, industry innovations and creative work that represents the next wave.

CLIO’s judging process is known for its democratic and non-political approach to recognizing creative excellence. Submissions that survive the first round are re-evaluated in the second round to determine the Shortlist as well as the Gold, Silver and Bronze statue winners. Each jury also has the option of awarding CLIO’s highest honor, the Grand CLIO, to one truly exceptional piece of work in each medium from the Gold winners chosen.

Entries submitted in product/service do not compete in the selected category (except entries in the Public Service and Business-to-Business categories). They compete against all product/service entries as a whole.  Product/service categories are for classification purposes only. Design, Interactive ("Other Interactive" entry type only), Strategic Communications / Public Relations and Technique mediums are judged in the specific categories in which they are entered.

CLIO’s system of judging ensures that each entry is evaluated for its own individual merit.

The culmination of the competition takes place at the 51st Annual CLIO Awards Festival. Attended by an international who’s who of advertising, the Festival offers delegates the chance to see the year’s best work from around the world and network with industry leaders.