The Cannes Lions, also known as the International Festival of Creativity, is an advertising festival held annually in the city of Cannes at the iconic Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Today, it is among the most prestigious events in the advertising, communication, and creative sectors in general.
The festival was founded in 1954 by European producers of advertising films. Rich in this heritage, the event will take place from June 22 to 26, 2026. Dive into the world of advertising and discover what it's all about at the Cannes Lions.
Cannes Lions: the world's most prestigious advertising festival
Each year, the Cannes Lions receive more than 20,000 advertising works from around the world to be evaluated by an international and renowned jury. Among all these works, there are more than 5,000 advertising films, about 10,000 announcements and posters, 1,500 internet titles, over 800 media solutions, and some 1,200 proposals for direct marketing that will be observed by more than 9,000 advertisers from around the world.
It is also during this festival that the most influential personalities in the industry meet, such as Malala Yousafzai or David Droga, to name just a few. The Cannes Lions allow all participants, whether experienced or beginners, to collaborate, share ideas, and progress through their creativity and shared passion.
This year’s edition features no fewer than 31 different awards. The “Creative Brand Lion”: This is the major new addition for 2026. This award does not recognise a single campaign, but rather the way in which a brand strategically utilises creativity across its entire organisation (systems, culture, internal capabilities).
International Festival of Creativity Cannes Lions 2026 | June 22–26, 2026
Discover the most creative campaigns awarded at the Cannes Lions
The awards are the foundation of the success of the Cannes Lions. They represent creative excellence in all sectors and specialties of the industry – and across the globe – and reward creativity in all its forms.
Each year, during the festival, people from all over the world gather to witness a historic event. At each award ceremony, the new global benchmark for creativity is determined in 31 award categories, ranging from filmmaking to creative business transformation.
According to organizers and industry experts, the festival is an opportunity to share one’s work with the world and gain deserved recognition from peers. It’s also a chance to make history in advertising.
This year, the names of 27 influential industry experts – a record number drawn from 15 different markets – have been announced as jury chairs. These thought leaders will bring their strategic insight to guide the deliberations that will award the prestigious Lions at the Festival, which will take place from 22 to 26 June 2026.
How to Participate in the Cannes Lions: Tips and Recommendations
There are many ways to participate in the Cannes Lions for this 2026 edition: from dedicated academies and competitions to specialized and premium passes offered by the festival, several options are possible.
Count on about 4,000 euros for a standard pass, which will allow you to access all conferences and award ceremonies, the closing night, and the Connections Lounge, and to obtain digital access to the event. It is worth noting that there are advantageous offers for students and emerging talents, which make it easier for them to access this environment.
Moreover, LIONS scholarships allow talents from underrepresented communities to participate, notably through the See It Be It initiative, which aims to advocate for gender representation equality in the industry.
The Cannes Lions and Their Impact on the Advertising Industry
This year’s Cannes Lions festival is having a major impact on the advertising industry in many ways, particularly at an individual level. Whilst a previous edition made a lasting impression thanks to Udecam’s work on measuring carbon footprints – thereby raising awareness of the climate emergency – the 2026 edition is taking this a step further by setting sustainability standards for the creative process itself.
Thus, the event allows various players to rethink the field with increasingly innovative ideas, in addition to bringing more creativity to advertising in general.
Besides, the festival allows networking among various actors in the advertising world, pushing them to collaborate but also to surpass themselves in terms of creativity and quality, which ultimately helps develop the sector as a whole.
Enjoy an unforgettable stay just steps from the Palais des Congrès and Cannes Festival, by choosing one of our ideally located accommodations. Whether you are on a business trip or here for pleasure, our accommodation options are designed to meet all your expectations.
Trends That Have Marked the Cannes Lions
Every June, the Cannes Lions reshape the global advertising landscape. Last year’s event was a historic one for France: at the 2025 edition, France delivered an exceptional performance, driven by a creative momentum that saw it win the title of “Creative Country of the Year”.
The festival’s originality lies in its ability to adapt its categories to reflect market realities. For the 2026 edition, we are seeing a consolidation of the changes already underway, with a stronger focus on:
- Creative Brand Lion: This year’s major new addition, recognising a brand’s overall creative culture over the long term.
- The evolution of Generative AI: Now present through dedicated sub-categories in almost all disciplines, AI is no longer a curiosity but a production criterion assessed on its ethics and innovation.
- Expansion of Retail Media: Following its high-profile introduction, this category is being refined to highlight the use of transactional data in the service of creativity.
Among the technical requirements now applicable to all entrants in 2026, rigour is essential: accessibility has become standard practice with mandatory subtitling, and the use of the “Creative Impact Disclosure” has been strengthened. This declaration requires agencies to provide quantified evidence of commercial and social impact, enabling the jury to distinguish between what is “beautiful” and what is “effective”.
A look back at Cannes Lions 2025
The 2025 edition will be remembered as the year France dominated the global stage, securing the title of “Creative Country of the Year”. Here are the three pillars of this success:
- Publicis Conseil’s triumph: For the second year running, the agency was named “Global Agency of the Year”. It made history by winning France’s very first Titanium Grand Prix for the “Three Words” campaign (AXA), an award that recognises ideas that are game-changers for the industry.
- A shower of Grand Prix awards (6 in total): France not only won in terms of quantity (63 Lions), but also in prestige, with Grand Prix awards in key categories:
- Outdoor: Paname 24 for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
- Film: McCann Paris for “The Final Copy of Ilon Specht” (L’Oréal Paris).
- Luxury: Havas Play for the LVMH x Paris 2024 Olympic Games partnership.
- Direct & Business Transformation: Encore Publicis Conseil for AXA.
- The emergence of “Post-Purpose”: 2025 marked a turning point where “purpose” was no longer just a slogan. The juries recognised campaigns with measurable commercial impact, such as the “Lidlize” campaign by Marcel (Lidl), proving that creativity is the primary driver of business performance.
Here is a short video summary of the 2025 Cannes Lions:
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Open to professionals in the sector as well as beginners, the Cannes Lions remain a unique experience and a must-attend event for all players in the advertising world, but also and especially for organizations that demonstrate great creativity.
Interested in participating in the Cannes Lions for this 2026 edition? Visit our website to find the accommodation that will best suit you during your stay in the city of Cannes!