
Health & Wellness Lions
The Health and Wellness Lions celebrate creativity for personal wellbeing.
Introduction

The history of the Health & Wellness Lions
Launched in 2014 the Health & Wellness Lions were the product of over 3 years of consultation with the industry, but demand stretched further back than this. The launch of this Lion effectively opened the floodgates for a passionate though heavily regulated industry that had long been seeking its own celebration of creativity.
The first year of Health & Wellness Lions brought many specialists into what was then a new arena which we hoped would help shape the industry. In 2015, the section matured and we saw an even greater spread of ideas championing creativity within the sector.
More recent additions to Health & Wellness include a health tech category; a more clearly defined awareness and advocacy section, plus updated mediums to reflect the award structure of Cannes Lions.
For 2026, we have added the Holistic Wellbeing & Mindful Living subcategory to celebrate comprehensive wellness approached beyond traditional medical messaging as a reflection of the evolving landscape of health for consumers.
Guidelines to Entering

What kind of work can be entered?
Any medium accepted at Cannes Lions is eligible, as long as it’s relevant to health and wellness communications.
Consumer healthcare and wellness work that highlights over-the-counter products, medical devices, or health-focused consumer goods. Work that raises awareness about health issues, educates on prevention or treatment options, or encourages mental health, physical fitness, and mindfulness.
Work addressing societal health challenges, advocating for policy changes, or championing accessibility in healthcare. Innovative uses of technology, such as digital platforms, wearable devices, and immersive experiences, as well as public health campaigns promoting safety or substance abuse prevention.
Additionally work supporting patients on their health journeys and creative medical communications targeting healthcare professionals are also eligible.
What are the judging criteria?
Individual judging criteria is dependent on the medium selected
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 is no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Health & Wellness as long as the categories and mediums chosen are relevant.
Exceptions:
- The same piece of work may only be entered once in section ‘A. Consumer Products Promotion’.
- The same piece of work may only be entered in either Health & Wellness Lions or Pharma Lions.
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?
An inspired approach to consumer healthcare. While judging criteria vary by medium, across the board the Jury look for work that delivers creative, impactful and original solutions that push boundaries and elevate the standard of Health & Wellness communications.
- A strong insight, impressive execution and real results that link back to the objective
- Considered strategy, thoughtfully designed at every touchpoint
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 Health & Wellness Jury:
“Make a movement. Don't stop at a great idea; look for a system that allows that great idea to impact people and solve real problems.”
Raimundo Undurraga | Chief Creative Officer, VML Chile
“Having spent time on the Jury, one thing became clear: the most compelling entries are those where creativity and effectiveness are inseparable. Focus on the problem you're solving, be rigorous in demonstrating impact, and don't underestimate the power of authentic storytelling. The strongest work moves both hearts and outcomes.”
Marlia Zanoli | Chief Marketing Officer, Kimberly Clark Brazil
“Be ruthless about your case film. Even brilliant work can get lost if the story isn't clear - especially in the Health & Wellness category where the can be a lot of complex contexts. Make the insight obvious, demonstrate the creativity, and show measurable impact as quickly and convincingly as possible."
Kate Torrance | Head of Brand, SickKids Foundation Canada
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
The Categories

To enter into the Health & Wellness Lions, you must first select the sector/category (direct to consumer, regulated, non-regulated and veterinary) for your piece of work. Then you select the relevant medium.
The categories in Health & Wellness are representative of the sector and the mediums are reflective of the types, and the forms of the work being entered. The mediums very closely follow the specialisms of the Lions, for example, Brand Experience & Activation or Creative Data.
A. Consumer Products Promotion
Work created to drive choice for a specific branded product that does not require prescription but provides either a meaningful health benefit or supports personal wellbeing.
VASELINE AND THE REAL NIGERIAN PRINCE | VASELINE | LEO, SINGAPORE | BRONZE, OTC APPLICATIONS | 2026
A01. OTC Oral Medicines
A02. OTC Applications
A03. OTC Products
A04. Nutraceuticals
A05. Health & Wellness Tech
B. Health Awareness & Advocacy
Work that promotes general health awareness, encourages proactive personal care or inspires advocacy and donations for legitimate health related causes.
ESCAPE VEHICLE | TOYOTA | OGILVY, ATHENS | BRONZE, BRAND-LED EDUCATION & AWARENESS | 2026
B01. Brand-Led Education & Awareness
B02. Non-profit Health Education, Advocacy & Fundraising
C. Health Services & Corporate Communications
Work created to communicate a health brand ethos through public-facing corporate image campaigns or directly promote public health services and facilities, medical insurance and financial plans.
THE SWEDISH PRESCRIPTION | VISIT SWEDEN | PRIME WEBER SHANDWICK, STOCKHOLM | BRONZE, HOLISTIC WELLBEING & MINDFUL LIVING | 2026
C01. Corporate Image & Communication
C02. Health Services & Facilities
C03. Insurance
C04. Holistic Wellbeing & Mindful Living
D. Animal Health
PROTEST MARCH OF THE PENGUINS | PENGUINS INTERNATIONAL | RETHINK, TORONTO | BRONZE, ANIMAL HEALTH | 2026
D01. Animal Health
Mediums

The mediums are a type of subcategory found in Health & Wellness Lions and Pharma Lions only and are chosen by the entrant in addition to the category for each submitted piece of work.
Audio & Radio
Experiential
Creative Data
Digital Craft: Interface & Navigation (UI)/User Experience (UX)
Direct
Entertainment
Film: Cinema, TV and Digital Film Content
Film Craft: Animation/Visual Effects
Film Craft: Cinematography
Film Craft: Direction
Film Craft: Production Design/Art Direction
Film Craft: Script
Film Craft: Use of Music/Sound Design
Healthcare Product Innovation
Industry Craft: Art Direction
Industry Craft: Copywriting
Industry Craft: Illustration
Industry Craft: Photography
Industry Craft: Typography
Integrated
Mobile
Outdoor: Ambient
Outdoor: Standard
PR
Print & Publishing: Collateral
Print & Publishing: Standard
Social & Creator
Use of Technology
The Written Submission

Here’s a preview of the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the Health and Wellness 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
1. Why is this work relevant for the chosen medium?
2. Brand Context
3. Objective(s)
4. Summary of the work
5. Describe the Impact
6. Describe the creative idea
7. Describe the strategy
8. Describe the execution
9. List the results
Was Artificial Intelligence (AI) used in the work or the entry materials?
Sustainability Context
Equity, Representation and Accessibility (if appropriate)
Confidential information for the Jury
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