Outdoor Lions

The Outdoor Lions celebrate creativity experienced out of home.

Introduction

The history of the Outdoor Lions

First introduced in 2006, the Outdoor Lions celebrate excellence in outdoor advertising, recognising creative work that engages audiences through billboards, posters, transit ads, and other forms of out-of-home media.

Over the years, as the media landscape evolved, so too did the Outdoor Lions, embracing not only traditional static formats but also digital, interactive, and experiential outdoor advertising. It has consistently highlighted the importance of creativity and craftsmanship in capturing attention in public spaces, where advertising must compete for visibility and impact.

Today, the Outdoor Lions continue to reward groundbreaking ideas that push the boundaries of outdoor advertising, whether through the use of new technologies, integrated campaigns or clever, disruptive messaging that resonates with audiences in meaningful ways.

Guidelines to Entering

What kind of work can be entered?

A wide range of outdoor advertising formats that engage audiences in innovative and impactful ways.

These may include but are not limited to static and digital billboards, print posters, and interactive screens that capture attention with visually striking designs and dynamic content. Animated screens and dynamic displays that offer the opportunity for more fluid, real-time messaging, pop-up shops and adaptations of outdoor spaces which transform physical environments into branded experiences.

Street furniture and large-scale signage, such as banners and murals, integrate seamlessly into the urban landscape, turning everyday structures into powerful advertising touchpoints. Live

What are the judging criteria?

The main criteria considered during judging will be the idea, the execution and the impact.

Eligibility

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

Grand Prix in Outdoor Lions

The Outdoor Jury can award two Grands Prix. One Grand Prix from Section A: Billboards or B: Posters and One Grand Prix from the remaining sections.

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 Outdoor as long as the categories chosen are relevant.

Exceptions:

  • The same piece of work may only be entered once in ‘A. Billboards: Sectors’ and/or ‘B. Posters: Sectors’.
  • In sections A and B, each execution constitutes one entry and all executions must have run within the eligibility period.
  • In Sections C, D and E, multiple executions may be entered as one entry. However, all Outdoor executions must have run within the eligibility period.

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?

Exceptional creativity, innovation, and effectiveness in engaging audiences through outdoor advertising. Work that stands out in crowded public spaces and uses the medium in unique and impactful ways. Jurors look for work that makes the most of the outdoor environment, transforming public spaces into memorable brand experiences.

  • 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 Outdoor Jury:

“The work that truly stands out is the work that distils itself into a powerful image — something immediate, human and unforgettable — creating a real connection between the street, the public and the culture around it.”

Stéphane Gaubert | Chief Creative Officer, Havas Paris

“The strongest work remains unmistakably true to the brand's core identity but delivers meaningful value to its intended audience. Great creativity doesn't simply create impact in a single moment it builds lasting relevance, forging connections that endure well beyond the campaign itself.”

Tim Wasicki | Group Creative Director, OUTFRONT Media

“Give a lot of cultural context. I was amazed at how different countries even if you knew them well had nuances that the Jury was unaware of. Don’t assume it will be so international in the room that someone will get it. Explain it - show proof and make it obvious.”

Leisa Wall | Chief Creative Officer, McCann New Zealand

“Put a lot of time into preparing the work. Elevate it to the highest level in terms of craft and storytelling. If you don't do it, know that a lot of other people are.”

Sergio Chinchilla | General Creative Director, Garnier Costa Rica

“Don’t chase scale, chase relevance. The best outdoor ideas aren’t necessarily the ones that reach the most people, but the ones that reach exactly the right people in exactly the right moment."

Marie Julie Gerbauld | Chief Creative Officer, David São Paulo

“The strongest entries were those where the medium itself made the idea possible: through context, location, scale, interaction, or innovation. If the campaign could exist in exactly the same way without OOH, it may be better suited to another category.”

Magda Szmilewska | Media Director, Oatly

Inside the Jury Room: Outdoor Lions

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

The Categories

A. Billboards: Sectors

Classic two-dimensional sheet and static digital billboards made for standard billboard spaces. This may include, but is not limited to, roadsides, highways and transit sides.

COINCIDENCE? | HEINZ KETCHUP | RETHINK, TORONTO | GOLD, CONSUMER GOODS | 2026

B. Posters: Sectors

Classic sheet and static digital posters made for public spaces. e.g. supermarkets, shopping malls, airports.

NEW YORK | BRITISH AIRWAYS | UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO, LONDON | BRONZE, TRAVEL, LEISURE, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS & FAST-FOOD CHAINS | 2026

C. Ambient & Experiential

All standard, non-standard and free-format out-of-home work that leverages the use of public spaces, objects and environments. For static digital billboards/posters please enter A. Billboards: Sectors or B. Posters: Sectors.

LET IT FLY | SAUDIA AIRLINES | PUBLICIS KSA, JEDDAH | SILVER, TRANSIT | 2026

D. Innovation in Outdoor

The creative and/or innovative use of an out-of-home medium to communicate the brand’s message.

WAOO "WIFI INVASION" | WAOO | UNCLE GREY, COPENHAGEN | BRONZE, AMBIENT OUTDOOR | 2026

E. Culture & Context

Work that is brought to life through cultural insights and regional context.

If you're submitting more than one execution please upload all executions in a single digital presentation image.

BACK TO KAI TAK | CATHAY | LEO HONG KONG | SILVER, SINGLE-MARKET CAMPAIGN | 2026

The Written Submission

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

To start your entry to the Outdoor 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

Book a call