Rates & Deadlines
ENTER EARLY.
ENTER AT
YOUR BEST RATE.
Ten public deadlines through February 2028. Three pricing tiers built for the real shape of the industry — agencies, independents, and the next generation. Submit when your work is ready.
CELEBRATION FLASH.
TWO WEEKS ONLY.
A two-week opening window to celebrate the 2026 winners and welcome the 2027 cohort. Three tiers, three accessible rates — for the agency, the independent, and the next generation. Save up to $270 per entry versus Late Entry pricing.
Enter Now →Design for Good
What Your Entry Buys
EVERY ENTRY EARNS
A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
A DIELINE Awards entry isn't just a shot at recognition. It's automatic consideration for editorial coverage on DIELINE, a potential pathway to the iF DESIGN AWARD, and a permanent place in the world's largest packaging design archive.
Editorial Consideration for Every Entry
Every entry is reviewed by DIELINE's editorial team for potential feature coverage on thedieline.com — not just winners. Strong work gets seen by 6.9M annual readers regardless of jury outcome.
A Path to iF DESIGN AWARD
DIELINE Award winners receive free entry into the iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 and automatic advancement to the second jury round — a $1,000+ value reserved exclusively for DIELINE winners through our official iF DESIGN partnership. Win at DIELINE, and you're already in at iF.
Global Stage for Winners
Winners are featured on DIELINE (232K+ Instagram, 6.9M annual pageviews), exhibited at the annual winner showcase in New York, and published in the digital DIELINE Awards Annual distributed globally to the industry.
A Permanent Credential
Every winner carries the seal for the year, joins a permanent archive of 27,000+ published projects, and receives a custom-engraved trophy, hand-finished to mirror perfection.
Ten Deadlines
ALL RATES.
ALL WINDOWS.
Every deadline is a separate window with its own pricing. Submit at any window — your work is judged on its merit, not its submission date.
Each window is a real deadline with real pricing. Submitting earlier locks in lower rates. We don't run flash sales or surprise discounts between windows. What you see is what you pay.
| Window | Professional | Independent | Concept · Student · DFG |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Celebration Flash★ Flash
Now – May 31
|
$275 | $185 | $85 |
|
Early Bird
June 30
|
$295 | $195 | $95 |
|
Summer Entry
July 31
|
$325 | $225 | $115 |
|
Late Summer
August 29
|
$355 | $250 | $130 |
|
Fall Entry
September 30
|
$385 | $275 | $145 |
|
Pre-Holiday
October 31
|
$415 | $300 | $160 |
|
Holiday
November 28
|
$445 | $335 | $175 |
|
Winter
December 31
|
$469 | $355 | $185 |
|
Final Call
January 30
|
$495 | $390 | $195 |
|
Late Entry★ Final
February 27, 2028
|
$545 | $425 | $215 |
All entry fees in USD. Non-refundable. One entry per submission form. Entries may be submitted into multiple categories.
Worth the Entry
A NIGHT. A TROPHY.
A REPUTATION.
AND A YEAR OF VISIBILITY.
Winning is the headline, but the entry itself is the investment. Editorial consideration on DIELINE for every entry. Eligibility for the iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 for winners. Inclusion in the annual digital edition distributed to the global industry. A year of carrying the seal — and a permanent place in the archive of the world's most respected packaging design work.
See What Winners Receive →Tier Eligibility
PICK THE TIER
THAT FITS.
Three tiers built around the real shape of the industry — large studios and agencies, independent designers and small CPG brands, and the next generation of designers entering the field.
Agencies, studios,
in-house teams, larger CPG brands.
For agencies, design studios, in-house teams, and CPG brands with more than five employees or annual revenue above $500K USD. The full competition with eligibility for Best of Show and Studio of the Year.
Independent studios,
solo designers, indie CPG brands.
For independent studios, solo designers, and CPG brands or founders with five or fewer employees or annual revenue of $500K USD or less. Same competition, recognition, and prizes — at a rate the rest of the industry can actually afford.
Concept work, students,
and Design for Good.
For students, conceptual projects, and Design for Good entries. Separate jury. Not eligible for Best of Show. Each track has its own place-and-merit recognition at every level.
For Agencies Entering at Scale
SUBMITTING
10 OR MORE?
Our Concierge team handles volume packages with personalized service — bulk pricing, account management, and strategic guidance on category selection. Talk to us about a custom package built around your team's submissions.
For Agencies and Brand Teams
ENTERING TEN OR MORE?
LET US HANDLE IT.
Our Concierge service is built for agencies, in-house teams, and CPG brands entering at scale. We handle the entry process end-to-end — formatting, categorization, submission, and team coordination — so your team can focus on the work instead of the paperwork.
Bulk Entry Packages
Volume pricing for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 entries. Lock in pricing across the entry window.
Done-For-You Submission
Send us your projects and your team's credits. We handle formatting, category selection, and submission to the platform.
Team Coordination
For agencies with multiple offices or in-house teams across brand portfolios — one point of contact, one invoice, one timeline.
Rates increase at each upcoming deadline. Packages must be purchased by the deadline to lock in current pricing. Contact andrew@thedieline.com.
All entry fees are in USD. Non-refundable. One entry per submission form. Entries may be submitted into multiple categories. Rates shown are per entry. The Celebration Flash rate is available only through May 31, 2026 (23:59 GMT). Late Entry on February 27, 2028 is the final deadline; no submissions accepted after that point.
SUBMIT WHEN
YOUR WORK
IS READY.
Ten deadlines. Three tiers. One competition. Whatever your stage and whatever your budget, there's a window for you.
Common Questions
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT.
Are entry fees refundable?
No. All entry fees are non-refundable, including disqualified entries.
Can I edit my entry after submitting?
Yes — you can edit entries until the window deadline. After the deadline closes, entries are locked for judging.
Do I pay per category or per project?
Per submission. You can submit the same project into multiple categories — each is a separate entry with a separate fee.
Does every entry get considered for DIELINE editorial coverage?
Yes. Every entry is reviewed by our editorial team for potential feature coverage on thedieline.com — not just winners.
Does every entry advance to the iF DESIGN AWARD?
No. Only DIELINE Award winners receive free entry into the iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 and automatic advancement to the second jury round.
What if my project isn't ready yet?
Wait for a later window. The competition runs through February 2028, with deadlines monthly. Submit when the work is ready.
Can I pay in installments?
For 5+ entries, our Concierge team can structure payment plans. Contact andrew@thedieline.com.
What if I'm a 2026 entrant?
Check your email — we sent a thank-you discount code valid through the June 30 Early Bird deadline.