Social & Creator Lions

The Social & Creator Lions celebrate creative social thinking and strategic influencer marketing solutions.

Introduction

The history of the Social & Creator Lions

The Social & Influencer Lions were introduced in 2018, evolved from the Cyber Lions to recognise the growing impact of social media and influencer marketing within the creative industry.

We evolved the Lion in 2025, to reflect the evolution of the creator economy within the marketing landscape, it was redefined and renamed the Social & Creator Lions.

The Creator & Influencer Marketing section was added in 2025 and features five subcategories that provide a dedicated space to champion the world’s best-creator-led marketing and celebrate the pivotal role creators play in shaping and amplifying brand messages.

Guidelines to Entering

What kind of work can be entered?

Eligible work may include social media campaigns, creator partnerships, and user-generated content, as well as creator led strategies and innovative uses of platform features like AR filters, live streams, and gamified experiences.

Social or Creator-led work that fosters online communities, encourages meaningful engagement, alongside efforts that demonstrate agility through real-time content or cross-platform storytelling is also eligible

What are the judging criteria?

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

Eligibility

Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 06 February 2025 - 09 April 2026.

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 Social & Creator as long as the categories chosen are relevant.

Exception:

  • The same piece of work may only be entered once in ‘A. Social & Creator: Sectors’.

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.

You'll be required provide proof of impact, supported by verifiable evidence, this information will not be shared with the Jury, but will be used to verify claims made in your entry materials. You'll also be required to provide details of a senior executive from both the brand and the entrant company (CEO, CMO or equivalent) who can formally approve the submission.

Optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry can also be uploaded.

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.

More information on the rules for entry can be found on the Summary of Key Rules for Entering and the handbook for our new Integrity Standards 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?

Social ideas that stand out for doing something different. The creative use of social media, brand ambassadors, creators and influencers that led to commercial success.

  • A strong insight, impressive execution and real results that link back to the objective
  • Considered strategy, thoughtfully designed at every touchpoint

Tips from the Jury

  • Determine the most impressive part of your campaign and find a category that showcases it
  • Provide tangible results that demonstrate impact
  • Remember the Jury are from all over the world, so provide context throughout your entry to ensure they understand the significance of your results and the relevance of your insight
  • The Jury look at hundreds of pieces of work, use storytelling in the written submission and case film to help your work stand out

Inside the Jury Room: Social & Creator Lions

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

The Categories

A. Social & Creator: Sectors

The same entry can be submitted only once in this section.

UNILEVER - Vaseline Verified

VASELINE VERIFIED | UNILEVER | OGILVY, SINGAPORE | Silver Lion, Social & Creator LIONS | 2025

B. Social Insights & Engagement

Work in these categories will be judged on how successfully social was used to engage with online communities and deliver measurable and meaningful results for a brand.

CAMDEN STOUT - HONEST REVIEWS | CAMDEN TOWN BREWERY | ABINBEV, LEUVEN | Bronze Lion, Social & Creator LIONS | 2025

C. Creator & Influencer Marketing

The work in this category should demonstrate how a social campaign was enhanced through the use of social influencers and content creators.

THE FLIPPER | HEINEKEN | LEPUB, AMSTERDAM | BRONZE LION, SOCIAL & CREATOR LIONS | 2025

D. Social Content Marketing

Work in these categories will be judged on how successfully content was used to engage with consumers and target audiences.

THE ORDINARY LIFE HEARING TEST | THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEAF | CJ WORX, BANGKOK | SILVER LION, SOCIAL & CREATOR LIONS | 2025

E. Excellence in Social & Creator

LAY'S BAR CRAWL | LAY'S | SLAP GLOBAL, BUENOS AIRES | SILVER LION, SOCIAL & CREATOR LIONS | 2025

F. Culture & Context

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

ERASE VALENTINE'S DAY | MONDELEZ | OGILVY, MUMBAI | GOLD LION, SOCIAL & CREATOR LIONS | 2025

The Written Submission

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

To start your entry to the Social & Creator 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

Everything you need to know to enter

For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.

From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.

Information and advice on how to enter

We are here to help

As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:

  • Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2026
  • Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
  • Discussing your work and relevant categories
  • Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.

Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.

Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155