Registrations for Young Lions Australia 2025 are now closed.
For ambitious creatives aged 30 and under, the competition is the ultimate chance to showcase your talent, gain global recognition, and accelerate your career on the advertising and marketing industry’s biggest stage.
OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM PAGE
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 from June 16-20, 2025. Prizes include a full week’s festival pass, flights, transfers, and boutique accommodation in the heart of Cannes and within walking distance of the Palais.
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your creativity on a global scale!
YOUNG LIONS MASTERCLASS RECORDING
Missed our Young Lions Masterclass on February 27? It could be the game changer between a decent entry and a winning one. 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.
WHAT’S NEW IN 2025
To mark the competition’s milestone 30th year, ACA has introduced new enhancements to give entrants the best chance of winning gold in Cannes:
- A condensed competition timeframe: The local competition will now mirror the intensity of Cannes Young Lions in France, with a compressed four-day format to better prepare participants for the infamous 24-hour creative sprint (see ‘Key Dates’ below)
- Unprecedented industry support from industry bodies the AANA, MFA, IAB Australia & ACA
- Mentoring from past winners and industry experts
- Accommodation in the heart of Cannes
Read more about these changes here.
Read more about 2025’s Jury Chairs here.
ELIGIBILITY
- a team of two professionals
- born on or after 20 June 1994 (we previously had 1995 incorrectly listed)
- 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 from June 16 – 20 2025 in France.
See ‘2025 Categories’ & downloadable entry forms below for more information.
KEY DATES
9:00 – 2 December 2024
Early bird entries open
Midnight – 24 December 2024
Early bird entries close
Midnight – 11 March 2025
Registrations close
19 March 2025
Competition brief will be emailed to all registered teams
20 March 2025
Webinar with charity & judges
23 March 2025
Entries due
26 March – 1 April 2025
Online judging
4 April 2025
Finalists announced
11 April 2025
Live presentations and winners announced (Sydney)
16–20 June 2025
Winners will take part in the Global Young Lions Competition
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 (early bird is $200 for a duo, general is $300 per duo).
CATEGORY & entry information
2025 entrants will compete 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
Create a product or service that answers the challenge in the brief.
DIGITAL
Build a digital-led campaign that uses the powers of digital 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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