What’s Changing at the Industry’s Leading Creative Festival
The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, returning from 22–26 June 2026, has announced several updates to its Awards system and the most significant shift is the Festival’s growing focus on artificial intelligence in creative craft.
A Spotlight on AI Craft
One of the standout additions for 2026 is the new AI Craft subcategory, which will be incorporated into multiple craft-focused Lions, including Design, Digital Craft, Film Craft, Industry Craft and Creative Data. This new space aims to recognise work created through the fusion of human imagination and advanced AI tools, rewarding projects where AI is not simply a convenience but an essential creative collaborator.
To be considered, entries must show that the idea or execution could not have been achieved through traditional methods alone, highlighting AI’s role in shaping entirely new creative possibilities.
Other Key Updates:
- Although AI takes center stage, Cannes Lions is also introducing other refinements:
- A new Creative Brand Lion, focused on brands that use creativity as a driver of long-term growth.
- A revamped Creative Data Lion, emphasising ideas in which data powers the creative concept from the start.
- Expanded recognition for retail media, adding new subcategories within Creative Strategy and Creative Data.
With these changes, Cannes Lions signals a clear direction: creativity is entering a new era where AI’s influence is no longer optional, it is foundational. The 2026 edition will celebrate the work that fully embraces this shift.
