Titanium Lion

The Titanium Lion celebrates game-changing creativity.

Introduction

The history of the Titanium Lion

In 2003, the late Dan Wieden, Co-Founder of Wieden+Kennedy, proposed the creation of the new Titanium Lion to recognise breakthrough ideas that were provocative and forward-thinking, and so the Titanium Lion was born.

In 2008, the Titanium Lion was expanded to include integrated campaigns and celebrate creativity, risk and consistency across channels. The Titanium & Integrated Lion existed as a single Award until 2016, when they were separated out.

In 2018, the Titanium Lion entry process was updated to include live judging in Cannes.

Often regarded as the most coveted Cannes Lions Award, the Titanium Lion recognises work that’s game-changing and reshapes the creative landscape.

Guidelines to entering

What kind of work can be entered?

Any kind of work can be submitted as long as it breaks new ground in branded communications.

What are the judging criteria?

All types of work can be entered – there are no categories. The idea is everything.

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?

The same piece of work can only be entered once in Titanium.

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”.

Presentation in Cannes

Shortlisted entrants will be required to present their work to the Jury in Cannes. These are live presentations with an audience that include a Q&A session where entrants will be expected to answer questions from the Jury.

Entry Tips

What’s the Jury looking for?

Ideas that have never been done before and that change the way we think. Work breaks new ground in branded communications, marking a new direction and moving the industry forward.

  • 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.

The Categories

Breakthrough ideas that are provocative and point to a new direction in the industry.

A. Titanium

There are no categories in the Titanium Lion. The idea is everything, whether it’s for a car or toothpaste, telecommunications or charity, with a big or low budget.

HAVEN | SUNCORP INSURANCE | LEO AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY | GRAND PRIX, TITANIUM LION | 2026

The Written Submission

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

To start your entry to the Titanium Lion, 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

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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