Our ten Australian Young Lions have returned from Cannes after winning the local competition in April 2025. With only 24-48 hours to respond to a brief, they did us proud, bringing home a silver, a bronze and two shortlists. Check out their Cannes submissions at ibiscreativestudio.com
OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM PAGE
While the 2025 Australia competition is over, to stay close to Young Lions news and find out the key dates for 2026, ensure you’re following us on LinkedIn. You can also register interest in the 2026 competition below and we’ll let you know when entries open.
Young Lions Australia Competition
WIN IN AUSTRALIA TO GET TO THE GLOBAL STAGE
We’re on the hunt for the brightest minds in Australia’s advertising, media and marketing industries. Think you have what it takes to compete on the world stage? The Australian Young Lions Competition is your chance to prove your talent, flex your skills, and earn a spot at the prestigious Global Young Lions Competition—the ultimate arena for creative excellence—held as part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The winners from Australia will jet off to the stunning French Riviera to represent the nation in Cannes. Prizes include a full week’s festival pass, flights, transfers, and accommodation in Cannes.
YOUNG LIONS MASTERCLASS RECORDING
Curious about the Young Lions competition? Check out our Masterclass recording from 2025. Hosted by past champions who’ve cracked the code to winning gold in Australia, this session is packed with insider advice to help you land your spot at Cannes. Want the recording? Hit the button below.
KEY INFO
The Cannes Young Lions Australia competition is designed to mimic the global competition conditions and timeframe.
- Competition Categories: ACA will run up to five competitions. In 2025 these were Marketing (client-side marketers only), Media, Digital, Film and PR.
- Competition timeframe: Registrations will open in late 2025. The competition brief will be issued in early 2026, with teams given approximately 4 days to respond. Blind judging will determine the top three in each competition. The finalists will be invited to Sydney to present their solution live to the Executive Jury.
- Industry support from industry bodies the AANA, MFA, IAB Australia & ACA
- Mentoring from past winners and industry experts
Read more about these changes here.
Read more about 2025’s Jury Chairs here.
ELIGIBILITY
The 2025 competition is now closed.
To be eligible to enter in 2026, you must be:
- a team of two professionals
- aged 30 or under
- a current employee within the advertising, media or marketing industry (certain categories welcome freelancers, please see categories and criteria below)
- an Australian resident or have a valid Australian work permit
- available to participate in the Global Young Lions Competition during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
See ‘2025 Categories’ & downloadable entry forms below for more information.
KEY DATES
2026 Competition Dates To Be Announced
Registration for 2025 is now closed
- Reads and agrees to the Official Young Lions Terms & Conditions
- Completes and submits a registration form (one form per team of two)
- Pays the non-refundable registration fee
CATEGORY & entry information (2025)
2025 entrants competed across five categories:
MEDIA
Develop an innovative media strategy based on compelling insights, showing how you’ll use different media channels and encourage engagement in response to the brief.
MARKETING
Open to client-side marketers only. Create a product or service that answers the challenge in the brief.
DIGITAL
Build a digitally-led campaign that uses the powers of technology to respond to the challenge in the brief.
FILM
Produce an original 60-second film ad in response to the brief.
PR
Construct an effective and engaging PR campaign in response to a communications challenge described in the brief.
CONTACT US
Email us at canneslions@adcouncil.org.au
May the best Young Lions win!
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