It’s been a busy month for our team - from the 2025 Gala to London Packaging Week and Empack Spain! Here’s a quick round-up of our insights...

2025 Gala Ceremony

Still buzzing from the Pentawards Gala Ceremony! Hosted in Amsterdam for the first time ever, with over 420 attendees (our biggest Gala outside of the UK!) joining us from across the globe - including New Zealand, Argentina, Costa Rica, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Finland, Peru, and beyond.

From The HEINEKEN Studio Truck , to opening the awards on a bike and roller-skates, the evening was packed with unforgettable moments. Add in the Tanqueray Bar & Official Toast , an epic Dance Off, Bingo by UPM , and even posters in the toilets.

From the awards show to the afterparty, the energy never dipped, the live band and DJ kept the dance floor alive well into the night.

Most importantly, we celebrated you - the global packaging design community - championing creativity, culture, and diversity while inspiring the future of design!

London Packaging Week

Pentawards were thrilled to be a part of a buzzing London Packaging Week this year.

Bringing our design edge to the show, we hosted a gallery of 50 inspiring packaging designs from the 2025 competition – with a focus on the ‘Best of British Design’ including the likes of Derek & Eric, B&B Studio, Butterfly Cannon and Johnnie Walker.

There was a jam-packed conference schedule filled with global speakers, some of our design highlights were:

- Kevin Marshall on inclusive design at Microsoft

- A panel all around using social to accelerate new brands, hosted by Paul Finch Co-Founder at Growth Studio, Lucy Edwards Founder, Blind Broadcaster and Disability Activist at etia and Emily Caine Head of Beauty at TikTok Shop

- The hilarious and talented artist Mr Bingo

- My Life in Design live podcast with host Claire Blyth , founder of Red Setter, getting to know our Co-president of the jury, Chloé Templeman Executive Creative Director at Pearlfisher – you can listen to the full podcast here !

Empack Spain

Some of our Pentawards team were in Madrid for Empack Spain, joining an inspiring two days that showcased the best of Spanish creativity and innovation.

We powered Day One of the conference, featuring talks from Mr. Gutenberg and Beiersdorf on “Colour, colour and more colour,” IRÜBI estudio creativo on connecting brands and consumers, Morillas on balancing luxury and play, Pablo Guerrero Estudio on inclusive design with Aspronautas, and JJ Bertran and Elisava students on storytelling through packaging.

Visitors also explored our Winners’ Gallery, showcasing winning Spanish projects from the 2025 competition, immersing themselves in bold innovation, storytelling and fresh aesthetics.

Next up: our Pentawards Festival at Paris Packaging Week — join us there for free !