Entries to the Cannes Lions Festival has risen by 0.5 per cent compared to last year, when 26,753 submissions were received, and were broadly similar to 2023’s tally of 26,992.
The annual festival of creativity, which runs from 16 to 20 June, is the biggest annual gathering in global advertising and is seen as a barometer of the ad industry.
Glass: The Lion for Change saw a 53 per cent increase in entries while the Strategy Track, encompassing Creative Strategy and Creative Effectiveness Lions, grew by 10 per cent.
The Design Lions, which have been updated to reflect the strategic and behavioural impact of design, rose by 17 per cent.
The number of entries from independant agencies rose by 18 per cent, and those from Latin America were up by 16 per cent.
As of today, 1,672 shortlists have been announced across 20 categories.
Simon Cook, Chief Executive of Lions, said: “We know that world-class creativity can come from anywhere. For business leaders seeking growth opportunities, the global benchmark provides a unique insight into creativity’s power as a catalyst for meaningful transformation and growth. With submissions from across 96 markets – and significant regional growth from Latin America – we look forward to seeing the breadth of groundbreaking ideas from across the world.
“We’re excited to see the winning body of work that emerges over the next week as our Juries set the benchmark that will define the future direction for our industry.”
Social & Creator Lions have been updated to “better reflect the growing influence of creators in today’s landscape”, and 18 per cent of all entries in this area were submitted in newly introduced sub-categories that focus specifically on creator-led content.
Entries to Creative B2B were up 13 per cent, while the Entertainment Lions for Sport rose by 15 per cent, “reflecting an increasing emphasis on creativity within performance-driven and fan-led sectors,” Cook said.
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards at Lions, said: “The submissions this year reveal a shift in how creativity is being harnessed for meaningful change for both business and society. We’re seeing record growth in categories that demand measurable impact, whether that’s through design thinking that transforms user experiences or strategic approaches that deliver tangible business outcomes.”
“Overall, the data shows an industry that continues to evolve and embrace new opportunities to drive impact, with strong engagement with creator-focused submissions and the growth of independent agency participation, representing an industry embracing new models of impact, innovation and transformation,” she added.
This content was first published by Campaign UK.
