Canadian Young Lions 2026 Opens Registration Following Banner Global Performance
Registration is officially open for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition, giving Canada’s next generation of creative talent the chance to compete on one of the industry’s most prestigious global stages. Expectations are high following a strong global showing last year.
After a standout performance in 2025, Canadian competitors helped secure Canada’s ranking as the third-most awarded country globally in Young Lions history, earning Gold in Design, Bronze in Media, and multiple international shortlists across Film and Marketing. That momentum now carries into the 2026 competition, hosted once again by The Globe and Mail, Canada’s official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
From now until February 8, 2026, teams of two can register across multiple categories including Design, Digital, Film, Media, PR, and Marketing. Competitors will receive a category-specific brief and have just 24 to 48 hours to develop and submit their work, a pressure-driven format that mirrors the realities of modern creative work and has become a defining feature of the Young Lions experience.
Why Young Lions Still Matters
For emerging talent under 31, Young Lions remains one of the most meaningful accelerators in the Canadian marketing and creative ecosystem. Beyond the competitive element, the program offers exposure to senior industry leaders, real-world creative constraints, and international benchmarking, all within a compressed, high-stakes environment.
Canadian Gold-winning teams will go on to represent the country at the Global Young Lions Competition during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place June 22 to 26, 2026. As the Canadian competition representative, The Globe and Mail covers registration fees, delegate passes, flights, and accommodation for winning teams, removing one of the biggest barriers to global participation.
Strong Industry Backing for 2026
This year’s competition continues to draw significant industry support. Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media company, joins as sponsor for both the Digital and Film categories. Snap Inc. returns as Media category sponsor, and Edelman Canada comes back for a second year as PR sponsor, also supporting amplification and visibility for the program. LG2 has contributed creative expertise for event design and assets.
The 2026 competition is supported by a group of category co-chairs and advisory board members spanning agencies, brands, and industry organizations, underscoring the program’s relevance across the broader marketing ecosystem.
Notable co-chairs include Mooren Bofill, Partner and CCO at ONE23WEST, for Design, alongside leaders from Edelman Canada, Veritas Communications, Canadian Tire Corporation, Kruger Products, LG2, Mekanism Media, CMDC, PlusCo Venture Studio, and more.
New advisory board additions for 2026 include Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Edelman Canada, and Andrea Hunt, President and CEO of the Association of Canadian Advertisers. Both bring deep experience in talent development and industry leadership.
A Proven Launchpad for Canadian Talent
While Cannes remains a powerful draw, the long-term value of Young Lions often shows up well beyond the festival. Alumni frequently point to the competition as a formative career moment, sharpening creative instincts, expanding professional networks, and opening doors across agencies, brands, and global markets.
As Canada continues to perform strongly on the global creative stage, the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition represents both a continuation of that success and a proving ground for what comes next.
Registration is now open, with competition weekend taking place February 28 to March 2, 2026. Full guidelines, eligibility criteria, and category details are available via The Globe and Mail’s official Young Lions site.
