Entertainment Lions

The Entertainment Lions celebrate creativity that turns branded content into culture.

Introduction

The history of the Entertainment Lions

The Entertainment Lions, formerly known as the Branded Content and Entertainment Lions, were launched in 2015 to celebrate content that cuts through, turns consumers into fans and ascends to the cultural mainstream.

It was originally launched alongside the Lions Entertainment Stream (a mini festival within the main Festival) to show just how important branded content is to the advertising industry.

This Stream has since been retired, however the Lion has gone from strength to strength, prompting the creation of three additional awards beneath the entertainment umbrella. The Entertainment Lions for Music was launched in 2016, the Entertainment Lions for Sport in 2018 and the Entertainment Lions for Gaming in 2022.

Guidelines to Entering

What kind of work can be entered?

Eligible work may include brand content, film and video content such as short films, branded content, digital videos and live events, activations and immersive experiences like AR, VR, or MR. Interactive campaigns, gamified experiences, and viral content for social media platforms are also considered, as well as music-driven campaigns and soundtracks that enhance the entertainment value.

Additionally, content for TV, radio, or streaming platforms and work that addresses cultural or social issues through entertainment are all eligible.

Brand refers to talent, artists, creators, influencers, streamers, athletes, teams, organisations, sponsors, platforms, media owners, rights holders or any entity that produces and distributes products and content related to the entertainment industry.

What are the judging criteria?

A number of criteria will be considered during judging, weighted as follows: 30% creative idea; 20% strategy & insight; 30% craft & execution; 20% results.

Eligibility

Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 01 February 2026 - 08 April 2027.

Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?

There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Entertainment as long as the categories chosen are relevant.

What do I need to provide with my entry?

To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site. In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.

Subtitles are highly recommended on all case films, films, demo films and original content.

Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on our Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.

What if I don’t have all the details right away?

Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.

Integrity Measures

All entries must provide Proof of Impact for every claim made in the written submission and supporting material. This material is compulsory for each entry, and types of sources accepted include third-party analytics, platform analytics, public reports, images of account dashboards, or client letter on official company letterhead.

Each entry must also receive Authorisation to Submit by the most senior executive at both the entrant company (CEO or equivalent) and the brand that commissioned the work (CMO or equivalent). This happens after your entry has been checked out and processed by the Awards team and is a compulsory step in the process.

More information on these new measures can be found on the Integrity Standards.

What if I don’t have all the details right away?

Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.

Entry Tips

What’s the Jury looking for?

Work that prioritises originality and creative execution, seeking fresh ideas that push the boundaries of entertainment through compelling storytelling, design, and production. Audience engagement is a key focus, with an emphasis on emotional impact, interactivity, and work that resonates on a personal level, whether through humour, drama, or surprise. The Jury also value cultural relevance, looking for projects that connect authentically with current trends, social issues, or cultural moments.

  • A strong insight, impressive execution and real results that link back to the objective
  • Considered craft (film, audio, live streaming, live entertainment, etc.)

Advice from the Jury

We asked last year’s Jury for tips for future entrants. Some common themes that emerged across all the Awards were:

Be clear on the problem and the solution

  • Clearly state the problem your work solves. Tell the story clearly and without overclaiming on results or impact. Don’t make the Jury work to connect dots. Keep the main idea simple enough to explain in one sentence.

Focus on one story

  • Lean into one clear story. It's tempting to pack in everything you're proud of, but the entries that resonate most are the ones that pick a single thread and follow it all the way through. Avoid including too many claims with regard to impact, instead focus on the most relevant and impactful results.

Tailor the entry to the category

  • Treat each entry as its own creative brief. Every submission should clearly make the case for why the work belongs in that specific Lion and subcategory. Don’t copy/paste, fill your forms out with care and attention – the Jury will come back to them time and time again.

Context is key

  • Remember the Jury are from all over the world, so provide context to ensure they understand the significance of your results and the relevance of any cultural insight.

Advice from the 2026 Entertainment Lions Jury:

“Don't ask how to make advertising more entertaining. Ask why anyone would choose to spend time with your idea. The strongest entries didn't interrupt culture - they became part of it.”

Sophia Lindholm | Head of Creative, Forsman & Bodenfors

"Entertainment needs a different lens. My guiding question was simple: Did the idea ignite the fans? Because that's how entertainment wins culture".

Jason Williams | Head of Creative Excellence, Publicis Groupe APAC

Inside the Jury Room: Entertainment Jury

To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.

The Categories

A. Branded Content

Creative content crafted to build awareness for a brand by associating it with culture and values through entertainment.

CHANGE MY MIND | CZECH TELEVISION | PUNK FILM, PRAGUE | SILVER, BRANDED CONTENT | 2026

B. Entertainment-led Brand Experience

Meaningful, engaging experiences and activations created to attract or maintain an audience.

THE WIZARD OF OZ AT SPHERE | SPHERE STUDIOS | SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT, BURBANK | BRONZE, NEW REALITIES & EMERGING TECH | 2026

C. Community

Work that develops, sustains and activates fan communities over time.

THE MOST EPIC WATCH PARTY GROUP | LAY'S | SLAP GLOBAL, BUENOS AIRES | BRONZE, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT/ DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY | 2026

D. Partnerships

Exceptional strategic partnerships between brands and entertainment entities.

POCKET-SIZED HALFTIME SHOW | CLASH ROYALE | UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO, STOCKHOLM | BRONZE, PARTNERSHIPS WITH TALENT | 2026

E. Challenges & Breakthroughs

Creative and innovative work that is brought to life through deep cultural insight, regional context and progressive thinking.

THE GREY SWAN | NYCOPLUS | 11:11, OSLO | SILVER, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN ENTERTAINMENT | 2026

The Written Submission

Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.

To start your entry to the Entertainment Lions, go to our Awards page.

The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.

When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).

The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.

Questions

Category Specific Questions

Contact us

We're here to help

Our Awards Experts can help with:

  • Explaining the updates to the Awards for 2027
  • Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
  • Discussing your work and relevant categories
  • Understanding how to use the entry system
  • Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process

Email: awards@canneslions.com Book a call

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