
Print & Publishing Lions
The Print & Publishing Lions celebrate creativity in circulation.
Introduction

The history of the Print & Publishing Lions
The Print & Publishing Lions were established in 1992 as the Press & Poster Lions. This launch marked a significant shift in the Festival’s direction, expanding its focus beyond film to encompass a broader range of advertising mediums.
The Award has been updated and refreshed a number of times to ensure it continues to accurately celebrate and reflect the publishing industry.
Guidelines to Entering

What kind of work can be entered?
The work will need to demonstrate ideas that leap off the page. Entries should showcase ingenuity and outstanding craftsmanship in published media including books, magazines, covers, printed materials, and digital publications for public distribution.
Posters and billboards are not eligible here - please see Outdoor Lions for this work.
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.
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 Print & Publishing as long as the categories chosen are relevant.
Exceptions:
- The same piece of work may only be entered once in ‘A. Print: Sectors’.
- In section A, each execution constitutes one entry, and all executions must have run within the eligibility period.
- In sections B, C, and D, multiple executions may be entered as one entry; however, all Print and Publishing 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?
Ideas that leap off the page. Ingenuity and outstanding storytelling in published media.
- A strong insight, impressive execution and real results that link back to the objective
- Considered craft (books, magazines, covers, digital publications, 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 Print & Publishing Jury:
“My advice would be to use the medium because your idea genuinely belongs there, not because it can also exist there. The most memorable work doesn't treat print as a nostalgic format, but as a medium with unique emotional, cultural and storytelling power.”
Riccardo Fregoso | Chief Creative Officer SEMENAT, Dentsu Creative
“Think about the role print plays in your idea. The strongest work had a clear reason for existing exactly as it did. Every creative decision felt intentional, and the execution was inseparable from the idea.”
Jason Murison | Creative Lead, DAMAC Properties
"Our Jury President, Jessica Apellaniz, perfectly summarized what we were looking for in this category: fresh, fast, and memorable. That would also be my recommendation for future submissions, make sure your work delivers on all three."
Fernando Pellizzaro, Global Executive Creative Director, AKQA
Inside the Jury Room: Print & Publishing Lions
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
The Categories

A. Print & Publishing: Sectors
The same entry can be submitted only once in this section.

SHOT WITHOUT PERMISSION | AMSTEL | INGO, STOCKHOLM | SILVER CAMPAIGN, CONSUMER GOODS | 2026
A01. Consumer Goods
A02. Healthcare
A03. Automotive
A04. Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
A05. Media/Entertainment
A06. Consumer Services/Business to Business
A07. Not-for-Profit / Charity / Government
B. Publications
The creation of original printed or published media. This may include, but not be limited to, books, magazines, covers and digital publications. The submission should indicate whether only the cover or the whole publication should be considered/judged.
DIN – THE MAGAZINE IN ALL FORMATS | DIN | DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUR NORMUNG, BERLIN | SHORTLISTED, COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS | 2026
B01. Commercial Publications
B02. Publications for Good
C. Innovation in Print & Publishing
If you're submitting more than one execution, please upload all executions in a single digital presentation image.
THE TROJAN FAX | IUCN FRENCH COMMITTEE X FUJIFILM PRINT | BETC, PARIS | GOLD, INNOVATIVE & ADAPTED USE OF PRINT & PUBLISHING | 2026
C01. Innovative and adapted use of Print & Publishing
D. 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.
LET'S END FAST TECH | BACK MARKET | MARCEL, PARIS | BRONZE, CHALLENGER BRAND | 2026
D01. Local Brand
D02. Challenger Brand
D03. Single-Market Campaign
D04. Social Behaviour
D05. Use of Humour
D06. Breakthrough on a Budget
D07. Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
D08. Market Disruption
D09. Cultural Engagement
The Written Submission

Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the Print & Publishing 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 Print & Publishing?
2. Print & Publishing Medium
3. Brand Context
4. Objective(s)
5. Summary of the work
6. Translation
7. Describe the Impact
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
Category Specific Questions
C01. Innovative and adapted use of Print & Publishing
D01. Local Brand
D02. Challenger Brand
D03. Single-Market Campaign
D04. Social Behaviour
D05. Use of Humour
D06. Breakthrough on a Budget
D07. Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
D08. Market Disruption
D09. Cultural Engagement
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