A video produced by the University of Illinois Springfield Office of Electronic Media for the Illinois State Fair has earned a Silver Telly Award in the Promotional Video – Events & Experiences category.

The award-winning video announced the Illinois State Fair’s 2026 theme, “Miles of Smiles,” and celebrated 100 years of Route 66. The project highlighted the Illinois State Fair’s connection to one of America’s most iconic highways while showcasing the tourism, history and memories associated with Route 66 in Illinois.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies. This year’s winners include Paramount TV, Warner Brothers Discovery, FOX Entertainment, MoMA, Mayo Clinic, Sony Music, TED, Al Jazeera, Variety, PETA, United Talent Agency, People Inc., Olympic Channel, AccuWeather, ABC News, Dude Perfect, Washington Commanders, Harvard Business School, Modern Post and others.

"Video has never been more contested, more creative, or more consequential than it is right now,” said Amanda Needham, Managing Director of The Telly Awards. “The Telly Awards has had a front-row seat to this industry for 47 years, and today’s entertainment is happening in multiple formats, across every screen, and at every budget level."

The video featured classic cars provided through a collaboration with the Illinois Route 66 Mother Road Festival. Historical imagery from past Illinois State Fairs was superimposed onto the vehicles, blending generations of fair memories with the spirit of Route 66.

“We’re so proud to see the creativity and collaboration behind this project being recognized,” said UIS Office of Electronic Media Director Cody Pope. “The partnership between the Illinois State Fair and UIS has been incredibly rewarding, and this video was a unique way to celebrate both the spirit of the Fair and the legacy of Route 66.”

More than 13,000 entries from around the world were submitted for consideration. Winners were selected by The Telly Awards Judging Council, which includes more than 250 experts from across the video industry. This year’s judges included Tamara Kruger, head of content and sponsorships at Google; Janet Graham Borba, executive vice president of production at HBO; Phil Cook, chief marketing officer of the WNBA; and Andrea Wertheim, senior manager of post-production at Netflix.

The UIS Office of Electronic Media provides professional video production, storytelling and multimedia services that support the university’s educational mission while partnering with organizations throughout Illinois on creative projects and public engagement initiatives.