We always get lots of questions about the Young Lions competition. Before you email us, have a read of the FAQs below.
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ENTERING
Can I wait to see the briefs before deciding which category to enter?
No, you need to register first to receive the brief. The briefing partner will not be revealed until the day the competition briefs are sent out. You will not be able to switch your registration after March 1 2027.
Can I enter more than one category?
Yes, but you must register and pay for two competitions to receive access to two briefs. You can only win in one category.
Is the client brief the same for all categories?
The briefing partner is the same for all categories, but the marketing challenge is tailored to the specific competition.
Why is ACA not running the Design or Print competition?
We carefully considered which categories would allow for the broadest range of entrants to compete, and as the competition is a very big undertaking with considerable costs involved, we decided to run five of the possible seven competitions in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Is the Earned/PR competition a new category?
No. We have simply retitled the PR competition this year to accurately reflect the type of thinking that is awarded in Cannes. Winners will still compete in the PR Young Lions category in France.
Can I enter solo?
No, you must enter as a team of two.
Can I enter if either of us lives overseas?
No, you must be an Australian resident or have a valid work permit.
What is the age limit to enter?
Entrants must be 30 or under at the end of the festival, ie born on or after 25 June 1996. There is no wiggle room on this as it is strictly enforced by Cannes Lions.
Can students enter?
No, the competition is not open to students.
Is the competition just for creatives?
Absolutely not! Each competition requires strategic and creative thinking, and for the Film competition, production skills are essential, so a combination of skills/roles/backgrounds is encouraged.
Do we both have to work for the same company to enter as a team?
No, you can work for different companies/agencies provided you meet the eligibility criteria.
I work in an agency. Can I enter the Marketing competition?
No, the Marketing competition is open to client-side in-house marketers only, e.g. marketing managers, brand managers, product managers, campaign managers, marketing specialists, etc. A client company means you work on your employer’s brands and are not marketing multiple different clients as an agency. Agency employees may not compete in the Marketers competition, nor can freelancers. However, in-house teams working for a client/brand can enter the other competitions, and are not restricted to just entering the Marketers category.
If I’ve entered (and won) before, can I enter again?
Yes, teams or individuals may participate in Cannes Young Lions Australia even if they have previously won the local competition, and provided they are still eligible.
I work for a publisher. Can I enter the Media competition?
Yes, the Media competition is open to a team of two media professionals working for agencies, media owners/publishers or freelancers.
One of my team members can no longer compete. Can we get a refund?
No, the entry fee is not refundable. You or your company will need to nominate a replacement subject to the eligibility conditions, and let us know so we can update your entry.
Is there one round of briefs or two?
The Australian competition is now following a compressed timeframe, and all categories will receive their brief by 9 am AEDT Thursday, March 4, with submissions due on Sunday, March 7 at 11.59 pm AEDT i.e. a competition period of 4 days.
If you make it to Cannes, the global competition allows 24 hours for all categories, except the Film competition, which is allowed 48 hours. So the Australian competition is positively luxurious!
Australian category finalists will be invited to present their original responses to an executive judging panel on April 9 in Sydney. There will not be a second-round brief.
How do I register, and how much does it cost?
To register, make sure each member of your team has:
- Read and agreed to the 2027 Official Young Lions Terms & Conditions
- Completed and submitted a registration form (one form per team of two) for the competition you want to enter – see ‘2027 categories and entry information’ section on this web page.
- Paid the non-refundable registration fee for the two of you
- Mark the key dates in your diary
- Forwarded the confirmation email to both competitors
We missed the deadline. Can we still enter?
Unfortunately, no. Registrations are open for 3 months. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter and follow us on socials to ensure you don’t miss out.
COMPETING
Can AI be used?
Yes, but it will need to be declared. During the Young Lions Competitions in Cannes, teams are allowed to use AI in the creation of their work.
However, just because you can use AI doesn’t mean you should.
AI and LLMs are designed to converge on the most likely insight and idea. Relying on AI risks your entry being very similar to others, and judges will score you accordingly. The most logical solution is not always the best.
Written Content: the use of AI is allowed in the creation of any text or written explanation within your campaign.
Image Creation: the use of AI to create images or vector images in the creation of your campaign, as long as these are commercially safe.
You will need to describe and document how AI was used in the creation of your campaign when submitting your entry.
Read the Terms and Conditions for more information.
For the Film competition, can our team use a crew of people to help us shoot and edit?
The Film competition is unique in its deliverables, but the judges will prioritise the concept over the execution. They will also be looking for a team of two who they are confident will cope and excel in Cannes, under pressure, without the benefit of a ‘support crew’. Of course, you can recruit actors and use whatever resources you have to produce your film.
For the Film competition, should the team members avoid acting in it to remain anonymous for the judging?
We don’t mind. You can use whatever talent you like in your film.
For the Film competition, does the film have to be 60 seconds or can it be any length?
This is not a strict length but a guide. Look at the films entered in Cannes for reference.
For the Marketing competition, do we respond to the brief as our Employer / Brand?
Yes. The Marketers competition specifically asks entrants to respond as the organisation they currently work for, and they must create a product/service that is relevant to their industry. Look at the global work for reference.
If you work for two different brands, choose one.
Copyright and IP terms and conditions – what do these mean?
Common sense applies here. To illustrate a concept, you can use stock shots or AI-generated imagery. But a film entry should not rely on, or be created using copyright music, footage, lyrics or melodies. We want to see YOUR creativity shine. Remember, the client is a NFP with low/no budget.
Can we use a brand’s logo in our campaign?
Common sense applies again. You are illustrating a concept and can use freely available graphics to do so.
Do we have to work to a budget?
Not strictly, as we don’t cost up your ideas and we’re looking for creativity over practicality. But the partner is an NFP with low/no budget, so your solution should be in the realm of reality.
Can we use celebrities or brands in our solutions?
There are no restrictions in the brief. However, a great idea should not RELY on a very specific celebrity being kind enough to donate their time to the cause unless there’s a genuine reason. Earned thinking is important, but judges don’t typically reward celebrity-driven campaign ideas.
Also, be aware that an entry that leads with another major consumer brand can overshadow the client’s brand. The client’s brand needs to be central to your solution.
Where can we see winning work?
Cannes Young Lions Global winners are available on The Work (free) at the links below.
Film Competition
PR Competition
Media Competition
Marketers Competition
Digital Competition
Can I use someone else’s IP or content?
No. Particularly important for Film competitors, you cannot use trademarked or copyrighted music, lyrics, melodies or film in your entry without permission from the copyright owner. Read the Terms and Conditions for more information.
One of my team members cannot attend the presentation in Sydney – what can we do?
The live presentation component is an important part of the competition, and we’d encourage both competitors to be in Sydney. If one of you cannot make it, we can arrange a video connection to the jury room.
Any more Qs? E-mail us at canneslions@adcouncil.org.au and we’ll respond asap.
