Best Advertising Agencies in Toronto (2026)

Introduction

Toronto is where the major holding companies run their Canadian advertising businesses, alongside large Canadian-founded groups such as Cossette. The 13 agencies below are network offices and advertising specialists, chosen for recent work, 2025 and 2026 recognition, and the strength of their client rosters.

The network map changed sharply over the past year. Omnicom closed its purchase of IPG in November 2025 and formed Omnicom Advertising Canada under Bryan Kane, keeping three creative brands: BBDO, McCann and TBWA. In Canada, FCB was folded into TBWA\Canada rather than BBDO, and the DDB brand was retired. In February 2026 WPP announced a new WPP Creative unit combining Ogilvy, VML and AKQA, with the agency names kept in market. Leo and Publicis Canada both climbed into the top six of Strategy's 2026 Creative Report Card agency ranking.

Every agency here has an active Toronto office in 2026. The list is in no fixed order of merit. Independent idea shops such as Rethink and Courage are covered on our creative agencies page.

The best advertising agencies in Toronto

1. TBWA\Canada

Omnicom · Toronto · tbwa.ca

TBWA\Canada is the former Juniper Park\TBWA, and is one of Omnicom's three Canadian creative brands. It has worked alongside DDB Canada since 2023 and took in FCB Canada after the IPG deal, with Nancy Crimi-Lamanna, previously at FCB, as chief creative officer. Its "Supernova Adaptive" work for adidas, a running shoe designed with people with Down syndrome, won the Innovation Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2026, and SickKids Foundation's "The Count" took Craft Best of Show at the 2026 Marketing Awards.

BMO is a major client: in June 2026 the agency turned Toronto into "The Bank of Soccer" for the World Cup, with streetcar wraps and hands-free ATMs. Air Canada, Nissan, Lotto Max and QuickBooks are also on the roster. With several agencies combined, it is worth asking which team your account sits with.

2. BBDO Canada

Omnicom · Yorkville · bbdo.ca

BBDO Canada works from 2 Bloor Street West and a Montreal office. It was the first Canadian agency to be named Agency of the Year at The One Show, in 2023, and remains one of Omnicom's three creative networks in the country.

OLG is its best-known account. "Welcome to Wintario", with Jay Baruchel, marked the lottery's 50th anniversary in August 2025, and "Our Beautiful Game" celebrated Ontario soccer. Other clients include Esso, RBC, Kijiji, Doritos and Ford.

3. McCann Canada

Omnicom · Toronto · mccann.ca

McCann Canada runs offices in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary and joined Omnicom with the IPG deal. Kids Help Phone is a long-running client: "Feel Out Loud" won a Grand Effie in 2024, and "Defining Help" won Gold in Media at Cannes Lions 2026. Fast Company named it one of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2024 and 2025.

Recent work includes turning Union Station into a live energy dashboard for Schneider Electric, a "Sisterhoodie" for L'Oréal Paris and campaigns for Wendy's Canada and Petro-Canada. Omnicom said in December 2025 that CEO Ryan Timms would leave after the transition, so confirm the senior team.

4. Leo

Publicis Groupe · Toronto · leotoronto.com

Leo, formerly Leo Burnett Toronto, works from 111 Queen Street East. It won Silver in Strategy's 2025 Agency of the Year and ranks fifth among agencies on the 2026 Creative Report Card, up from eighth. Adriano Matos joined as chief creative officer in August 2026, with Angus Tucker as creative chairman.

The roster leans to big national brands: TD, Bell, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Shoppers Drug Mart and ecobee. The agency launched an in-house AI assistant, Hi Leo, in November 2025.

5. Publicis Canada

Publicis Groupe · Toronto · publicis.ca

Publicis Canada shares the Queen Street East building with Leo and also has offices in Montreal and Windsor. On Strategy's 2026 Creative Report Card it moved from 22nd to sixth among agencies. At Cannes Lions 2026 it won a Silver in Print & Publishing for Jeep's "Silent Edition", and Erin Brittain of Publicis Toronto was named Strategist of the Year at Campaign Canada's 2026 awards.

Rogers is a core client, with recent work for TIFF and the Blue Jays featuring Michael Cera. Canadian Tire, Jeep, Heineken, Dairy Queen, Sleep Country and Cadillac Fairview are also on the roster.

6. Ogilvy Canada

WPP · King West · ogilvy.com/ca

Ogilvy's Toronto office is on Wellington Street West, with sister offices in Montreal and Quebec City. Christopher Andrews became CEO in late 2024, and Andrea Isbester joined as chief strategy officer in April 2026. The agency now sits in WPP Creative alongside VML.

Dove, TD, Hellmann's and H&R Block are long-standing clients. TD's "Fractional Window Shopping" won two Bronze Lions at Cannes in 2026, and recent work includes Hellmann's World Cup campaign with Alistair Johnston and a Fanta and Xbox partnership.

7. VML Canada

WPP · Toronto · vml.com/canada

VML Canada was formed in February 2024 when WPP merged Taxi with Wunderman Thompson Canada in Toronto and Vancouver. Rob Guénette, who led Taxi North America for 16 years, is CEO, and Graham Lang is chief creative officer. The Taxi name continues only in Montreal and New York.

Clients include Coca-Cola, Rogers, Volkswagen, OLG, Mazda Canada and Egale. Recent wins include a three-year agency of record deal with bet365 and brand marketing for The Globe and Mail. It placed 10th on Strategy's 2026 Creative Report Card, down from fourth.

8. john st.

WPP · Toronto · johnst.com

john st. was founded in Toronto and is owned by WPP. It runs offices in Toronto and Montreal, and Krystle Mullin, formerly of Edelman, has been chief creative officer since November 2023. It won the Entain account (which includes Sports Interaction) after an eight-agency pitch in December 2024.

The Sports Interaction work, built on fans' split loyalties, has run through 2025 and 2026. Other recent clients include No Frills, Home Hardware, the PWHL and the Canadian Stuttering Association.

9. Cossette

Vision7 · Liberty Village · cossette.com

Cossette was founded in Quebec in 1972 and is one of the largest Canadian-founded agencies, with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and Vancouver. At Strategy's 2025 Agency of the Year it won Gold for design, Silver for media and Bronze for digital, and it ranks ninth on the 2026 Creative Report Card.

McDonald's Canada is a flagship account. Air Canada, SickKids Foundation, LCBO, Indigo and Dempster's are other clients, and Driscoll Reid, formerly of Airbnb, is chief creative officer. Cossette suits brands that want creative, media and design from one Canadian group.

10. Dentsu Creative Canada

Dentsu · Financial District · dentsu.com/ca

Dentsu Creative is the creative agency within Dentsu Canada, which is based at 1 University Avenue. Ari Elkouby became chief creative officer in May 2025, under CEO Patrick Hounsell. Its "Following Wildfire" campaign for Tentree won the most medals at the 2025 Strategy Awards.

At Cannes Lions 2026 it won a Bronze for True Hockey's "Game On Ball". Other clients include IKEA, Lexus Canada, Subway, Skip and Fidelity.

11. Sid Lee

Hakuhodo (via kyu) · Distillery District · sidlee.com

Sid Lee started in Montreal in 1993 and opened in Toronto in 2010; its office is in the Distillery District. Hakuhodo's kyu unit bought it in 2015. The agency is behind the Toronto Raptors' "We The North" platform and won Design Gold at the 2026 Marketing Awards for its Gilles Villeneuve work.

Recent clients include RONA, Sobeys, bélairdirect, Porter Airlines and Maple Leaf Foods. It ranks 13th on Strategy's 2026 Creative Report Card, and its Montreal roots suit brands that need French and English work from one team.

12. Anomaly Toronto

Stagwell · Toronto · anomaly.com

Anomaly's Toronto office is on Spadina Avenue and is part of Stagwell's global Anomaly network. It won one of the two Grand Prix at the 2025 Strategy Awards, for Labatt's "King of Zero" campaign for Bud Zero.

Labatt is the anchor client, with recent Budweiser work for the Blue Jays and the PWHL. Visa and Gatorade are also on the roster. The office promoted Matt Holton to managing director.

13. Gut Toronto

Globant · Toronto · gut.agency

Gut opened in Toronto during the pandemic and belongs to Globant, which took a majority stake in the Gut network in 2023. It rose from 77th to 24th on Strategy's 2026 Creative Report Card, and Ryan O'Hagan was promoted to CEO in May 2026.

Tim Hortons is its flagship account, retained after a competitive review; "Blizzard as Usual" won a Silver Lion in Outdoor in 2026. ASICS's "The Undropped Kit" also won Silver and Bronze at Cannes. Dave & Buster's appointed it agency of record in September 2026.

What to look for in a Toronto advertising agency

Start with ownership and the 2026 reorganisations. Clients of the old FCB and DDB offices now sit inside TBWA\Canada, and several Omnicom and WPP leaders have changed roles this year. Ask for the current org chart and the names of the people who will run your business, since the people in the pitch should be the ones doing the work.

Check how media and production are handled. Network agencies can bring sister media shops, production arms and data teams, which helps for national campaigns across TV, out-of-home and digital. Ask which of those services are included and which are billed separately, and who owns the production schedule.

Ask about French-language work. Most of the agencies above have Montreal offices, but some adapt English work while others create in market. For national brands that need to land in Quebec, the difference shows in the finished campaign.

Finally, look at how review and approvals run. A national campaign can involve dozens of cut-downs, versions and legal checks, each with its own feedback round. Agencies with a clear review process and one place where the latest files live tend to spend less time chasing approvals.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best advertising agency in Toronto?

It depends on the brief. On 2025 and 2026 recognition, TBWA\Canada won a Cannes Grand Prix for adidas, Leo took Silver at Strategy's 2025 Agency of the Year, and Cossette won Strategy's 2025 Design Agency of the Year.

What happened to DDB Canada and FCB Toronto?

Both brands were retired after Omnicom bought IPG at the end of 2025. In Canada, FCB was folded into TBWA\Canada, and DDB's Canadian business, which had been run alongside Juniper Park\TBWA since 2023, also became part of TBWA.

What is the difference between an advertising agency and a creative agency in Toronto?

The labels overlap. This page covers network offices and advertising specialists, which tend to offer media, production and national scale. Independent idea shops such as Rethink, Courage and Zulu Alpha Kilo are covered in the best creative agencies in Toronto.

Which Toronto advertising agencies can work in French?

Most networks here have Montreal offices, including BBDO, McCann, Ogilvy, john st. and Publicis. Cossette and Sid Lee were founded in Quebec and work in both languages from the start.

How should I brief a Toronto advertising agency?

Share the business problem, budget, timing and how success will be measured, plus media and French-language needs. Ask each agency to name the team, explain how production is managed and show how review and approvals work.

Related lists

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