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 February 5 2026.
Can I enter more than one category?
Yes, but you must register and pay for two competitions first 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 and 2026.
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 26 June 1995. 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 Marketer’s 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 Marketing 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 on Thursday, February 12, with submissions due on Sunday, February 15 at midnight, 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 a judging panel on March 27 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 2026 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 ‘2026 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, and we have now closed registrations for 2026. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter and follow us on socials to ensure you don’t miss out next year.
COMPETING
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, without needing 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?
Ideally, the team is not featured in the film. However, we don’t know what you look like….
For the Film competition, does the film have to be 60 seconds or can it be any length?
As the deliverables specify a 60-second film, exactly as it would be aired, we’d strongly suggest you create a roughly 60-second film. Look at the films that are entered in Cannes for reference.
For the Marketing competition, do we respond to the brief as our Employer / Brand?
In the Australian competition, we allow Marketers to respond freely, to encourage the best and broadest thinking. In Cannes, the Marketers competition has a different directive, but don’t worry about that right now. The brief is the source of truth.
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 charity 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?
We don’t cost up your ideas. But the partner is a charity with low/no budget, so your solution should be in the realms 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
In 2025, the Australian competitors received briefs from Saveful: here are the winning entries.
Check out Ibis Creative Studio – the Australian team’s pop-up agency launched during Cannes – to see their entries in the global competition.
Can AI be used?
Yes, but it will need to be declared. Yes, this means you can use it for all purposes. This rule is the same in Cannes. Read the Terms and Conditions for more information.
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.
Registrations closed February 5 2026 – more here.