Call for Content Guide 2026
Make history by speaking on the most coveted stage in the creative industry.
Welcome
Welcome to your step-by-step guide to submitting a session proposal for the Cannes Lions Content Programme. Explore different speaking opportunities, get practical tips to craft a strong content proposal and delve into the Guiding Principles for a standout piece of content at Cannes Lions. Here's all you need to know to develop and submit your idea.
First time submitting content to Cannes Lions?
If you’ve never submitted a content proposal to us before, we encourage you to read through this guide thoroughly. It covers everything you’ll need to craft a strong content proposal and maximise your chance of taking to the stage at Cannes Lions 2026.
And if you still have questions or can’t find what you’re looking for, our Content team is on hand to help.
Spoken at Cannes Lions before?
If this is not your first rodeo and you’re looking for more specific information about 2026, including key dates or the Content Streams, use the side navigation to quickly find it.
Where to start
What is Cannes Lions
Cannes Lions is where the entire global creative communications industry comes together.
The Festival is your chance to celebrate creativity in all its forms – helping prove its effectiveness and shape its future.
Speaking at the Festival is a seminal career moment. Your onstage opportunity to reach thousands of decision-makers and thought leaders from the world’s most powerful agencies, brands and media owners.
Who attends?
Company type
Job type
The Festival Programme
What are we looking for?
We’re always looking for brand-new, fresh perspectives and ideas to take the stage at Cannes Lions. And more importantly, we believe that creativity can come from anywhere.
- We want to bring voices from around the world to the global stage at Cannes Lions.
- We want to draw inspiration from a broader and more diverse spectrum of creative disciplines that will help inspire your work.
- We want to deliver practical insights that will help you be the best you can be at every stage of your creative career. From creatives, marketers, strategists and CEOs, from Young Lion to Lion of St Mark.
So with that in mind, have you got something for the Cannes Lions stage?
Speaking opportunities
There are many ways to participate in the Festival Content Programme:
1. Submit your own idea for the Cannes Lions Content Programme
Here's your opportunity to craft a content session from scratch. You pitch the topic, speakers, session format and more. If accepted, you'll be responsible for the delivery and costs of curating the session. For more information, see 'How to craft a strong session proposal'.
2. Apply to join an existing series
Speak on an existing content session that Cannes Lions organises. This is for opportunities to speak on Future Gazers, CMOs in the Spotlight, our ‘how to’ sessions or debates. We’re looking for legends of the creative world, underrepresented voices igniting change, future-looking trendsetters, global CMOs and more. On the form, make sure to select ‘Apply to speak on a series’ and use the dropdown to specify which one you want to join. You’ll need to have a relevant topic idea that you can speak passionately about to support your application. Explore the different series we’re planning for next year and see if there's a fit for you.
3. Get involved in our additional events (LIONS Creators, LIONS B2B Summit, sport, CEO Forum)
Have an idea specifically focused on the creator economy, on sport or on B2B marketing or an idea targeted at CEOs? You can find more information about these events here. Use the form to indicate which topic you’re interested in.
4. Want to nominate a mentor, moderator or stage MC?
We’re looking for mentors, moderators and stage MCs. If you’re interested in mentorship opportunities, read more here.
Want to be a moderator? We’re looking for excellent interviewers with a journalistic background, inquisitive mind and a talent for getting the best out of speakers. If you’re not sure which series is right for you, you can still apply. The Content Production team will match the right moderator to the best session.
Think you’re our next Stage MC? Can you rally an audience, manage Q&As and be a host for the creative community? If that’s you, fill out the form below.
Key dates
Call for Content Opens: November 2025
Closes: 31 December 2025
See section ‘Deadlines and Timelines’ for more detail.
2026 Festival Content Streams
There are five Content Streams at Cannes Lions. Every talk at the Festival will fall under one of the five Content Streams.
The Content Streams are designed to help our audience navigate the broad range of topics, skills and trends shaping the future of the creative industry.
Before you submit your content proposal, have a look at the descriptions below. It’ll give you a sense of what’s hyper-relevant to the Cannes Lions audience. If you can present answers to any of these or related questions, we want to hear from you.
Insights and Trends
Focuses on the strategic challenges, consumer behaviours, cultural shifts and creative thinking driving the industry forward.
We’re looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:
1. Customer centricity in 2026: How to connect with ever-evolving audiences by understanding what drives them – their needs, their passions and the trends that shape their world. How are generations of consumers including Gen Z and Alpha making buying decisions, and how can brands win them over?
2. Local stories shaping global thinking: Examples of how local insights and cultural nuances spark ideas that resonate worldwide.
3. Make culture your competitive differentiator: Do you drive product, service or brand innovation by tapping into culture? Show us how.
4. The brand’s role in a chaotic world: War and violence. Economic instability and unemployment. Environmental degradation. Financial and political corruption. These are just some of the things that worry your consumers – and your employees. Where, and how, do you take a stance as a business?
5. The power of small: Explore the mindset and methods behind some of the most successful challenger brands and agencies.
6. The evolving agency landscape and why it matters: How will network consolidation affect creative professionals and independent agencies? What does this mean for the future of creative work?
Innovation Unwrapped
Is your guide to the most cutting-edge pioneers, technologies and transformations already shaping tomorrow.
We’re looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:
1. Global innovators to watch: Who is creating new value by transforming ideas into impactful realities? We want the world’s most disruptive brands, the globe’s visionaries – or anyone who has stood out by using the latest creative tech breakthroughs – to show us what it takes to be a pioneer.
2. The latest technologies in AI: What are the most cutting-edge technologies at the forefront of AI innovation, and how can creatives and marketers harness them? We’re not looking for sales pitches, but for real creative applications and insights.
3. Unlock transformation with agility and speed: How can breakthrough creative ideas fuel brand, product, service, and business transformation? We’re looking for stories that show innovation at pace.
4. Innovation – it’s a journey: Examples of innovation driving progress and business growth, showcasing what it takes to embed innovation as part of a long-term brand strategy. We want to hear about the failures, the products that never made it to market and the lessons learnt along the way.
5. Innovation across the ecosystem: What are the newest innovations in gaming and experience design? How are market leaders using technology to create sustainable brands and a healthier planet? Bring us the people, platforms and ideas defining the next era of innovation.
The Creativity Toolbox
Examines the craft, processes and techniques to help you achieve creative excellence.
We’re seeking content that addresses any of the following and more:
1. Skills to succeed in the AI age: What areas should creatives and marketers upskill in to keep pace with a tech-first world? What can humans do best while machines do the rest? Show us how creative talent is evolving alongside technology.
2. Borrowing from other disciplines: Scientists, economists, neuroscientists – what can different creative visionaries teach us about creative processes? A hostage negotiator on how to pitch. An architect on how to build a brand. We want out-of-industry leaders with insights that can teach new skills and perspectives to enhance our creative industry.
3. The messy middle: Take us behind the scenes of campaign development, from idea to execution. We want honest encounters about how great work gets made – the highs, the lows and everything in between.
5. Business literacy for creatives: In the age of ROI obsession and budget constraints, how can creatives better communicate their ideas to non-creative decision-makers? Help us bridge the gap between creative ambition and commercial reality.
6. What’s in the creative marketer’s toolkit: The modern marketer needs to be part-strategist, part-technologist and part-storyteller. What are the tools they need to succeed in 2026 and beyond?
Talent and Culture
Is all about the people and practices behind creative organisations that thrive.
We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:
1. The new battle for talent: This war is no longer between companies, but between institutions and independence. How can brand leaders build cultures that empower autonomy, experimentation and purpose?
2. Equity, inclusion and accessibility: We’re moving backwards. What are the biggest threats to DEI, and how can we tackle them collectively?
3. Risk-taking as a competitive advantage: How can organisations build cultures of creative risk-taking in polarised times? What role does leadership play in nurturing the culture of creative risk-taking? Share how to tackle key challenges when it comes to producing category-breaking and boundary-pushing creative work.
4. The modern leaders’ skill set: Practical tools to enhance emotional intelligence, motivate multiple generations of talent and guide a global team effectively. Tips on how to navigate the new reality of a tech-first workforce.
5. Leveraging talent across the ecosystem: How can brands build lasting creator partnerships rather than one-off campaigns? Bring examples of brands collaborating with talent in new and meaningful ways.
Creative Impact
Serves as the ultimate guide to proving the value and effectiveness of creativity.
We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:
1. New thinking driving creative impact: New research, unexpected success stories and provocative perspectives that can help drive growth through creativity. Who are the new voices of effectiveness and what are they saying that’s shaking up our industry?
2. Effectiveness on a budget: Big impact, small spend. How are challenger brands and lean teams delivering world-class creativity? Show us how ambition, not budget, defines effectiveness.
3. The creator effect: Explore how creators are driving measurable business results and what brands can learn from their authenticity, agility and community-driven approaches.
4. Avoid the sea of sameness in the age of AI: Fresh strategies to stand out in an increasingly automated world. How can brands maintain their creative edge in a landscape flooded with AI-generated content?
5. Local lessons in effectiveness: Dive deep into regional stories and insights to uncover practical tools for building a culture of effectiveness within your organisation.
How we review talk submissions: Content Guiding Principles
What makes a standout piece of content at Cannes Lions?
We’ve examined the highest-rated talks at Cannes Lions over the years, and they all share these Guiding Principles.
Your session proposal will be reviewed against these Guiding Principles, so stress-test your ideas against each principle before submitting.
1. Break out of the echo chamber
Inspire the global creative community with unconventional thinking and original problem-solving. We’re looking for ideas challenging the industry, disrupting the status quo or driving significant change. The proposed content session must premiere at Cannes Lions.
What does great look like?
A session proposal that brings in a plethora of perspectives, outside of the industry norms and stereotypes associated with this topic. It's either brand-new thinking or a totally fresh perspective on an age-old challenge. It’s boundary-busting, game-changing, pioneering thinking.
What we’re not looking for
Content that has been seen before. Submissions that reinforce industry norms and ideas. There’s no consideration given to alternative perspectives. It's the same people, talking about the same stuff.
2. Define a single, clear message. Stick to it. And go deep.
Focus on one thing. Be clear about what you're saying or what you're trying to address. And cover it in depth and with due diligence. Don’t just skim the surface. It's our job at Cannes Lions to curate a holistic content programme that speaks to all of the hottest topics in the industry, so you don't need to. What is the key message you want the audience to think about? Dive as deep as you can into the topic. Remember, if you have more content session ideas/topics, you can enter multiple session proposals. But make sure each has a single message and clear purpose.
What we’re looking for
A key message that’s so clear and with such depth and expertise that an audience member will feel knowledgeable when they walk away.
What we’re not looking for
Ideas that have no clear direction – covering several topics and issues and answering none of them in depth. An audience member will walk out of the talk without a clear understanding of what they’ve just learnt, or they’ll say it skimmed the surface.
3. Be upfront about what the audience will practically take away.
We encourage you to answer a simple question throughout your talk – so what? What will the Cannes Lions audience gain from attending your talk? Show us how it’s done, offer step-by-step guides, help the audience learn from your mistakes and ultimately offer practical takeaways in exchange for their time and attention.
What we’re looking for
Content session ideas where it’s abundantly clear what the audience will gain from attending. The takeaways stand out. Your talk’s audience will feel a generous return on investment from attending.
What we’re not looking for
Submissions that make you say, “that's cool, but so what?” It’s not clear what the audience will gain by attending this talk.
4. Ask – and answer – the difficult questions. Provoke, challenge, incite.
Don’t play it safe. The best sessions at Cannes Lions answer the questions everyone’s dying to ask out loud. So be daring and provocative. There’s creativity to be discovered in provocation. This could be your moment to step out onstage at Cannes Lions and speak to the world’s best problem-solvers. And what do problem-solvers want? To be challenged! No one wants to hear what they already know. It’s as simple as that. So disrupt, challenge, incite.
What we’re looking for
A content session that truly challenges assumptions and offers new – and radical – ideas. It’s asking the really thorny questions…and providing the answers to them.
What we’re not looking for
Ideas that are ‘playing it safe’.
5. Make sure it’s hyper-relevant to the Cannes Lions audience.
Ensure your idea resonates with the creative challenges of the Cannes Lions audience today. If you feel you could lift your idea and present it onstage elsewhere, it’s probably not right for Cannes Lions. The tools, tips and thought leadership you share will need to apply to creatives, marketers, strategists, creative business leaders and many more. Will it help them do their jobs better? Know who you’re trying to reach, and keep them in mind at all times in your session proposal.
What we’re looking for
Something that uses creative examples and could be used straight away by the audience when they return to their day jobs – even if your ideas and examples are not from the creative industry.
What we’re not looking for
Broad, generic presentations that don’t reflect the real world our industry operates in.
6. Reflect the world we live in – not just a portion of it.
Before submitting, please ensure your content session reflects the world at large. Does it speak to a global audience? Is it inclusive? Does it offer a diversity of thought? Go beyond the industry: liaise with professionals from fields like film, philosophy, art and music who are strongly connected with creativity and what the creative community cares about. Seek input from underrepresented voices in the industry to provide a different perspective. At LIONS, we place diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of all of our content. We won’t move forward with any content submission that doesn’t meet our values.
What we’re looking for
A session proposal that has deeply considered diversity, equity and inclusion – both in the selection of speakers to represent the content and in the core ideas and perspectives presented.
What we’re not looking for
Session proposals rooted in Western-centric ideals and reinforcing stereotypes through a lack of representation and/or a lack of bringing in underrepresented voices, thoughts and perspectives.
7. Be a storyteller and build an authentic connection
You’re not onstage to sell a product. You’re there to serenade the audience. To create a connection, rather than a transaction. Make sure your speakers have a strong, authentic, personal connection to the topic. Our audience will know if they don’t. And if you can, don’t just tell, show. People love to see examples of work. Creatives are visual people. Think of how you want the audience to feel when they walk out of that theatre – joy, sadness, anger, excitement – and set out to make them feel it. Be a storyteller.
What we’re looking for
A story that makes people feel something – an emotional connection that you build with your audience.
What we’re not looking for
Sales pitches about your company or business.
8. Bring it to life. Be original in your format.
What can you do to stand out? People want to connect with what’s happening onstage. Think about different ways you can involve your audience. Go beyond a panel discussion format or a traditional keynote. Share your wildest idea or a super experiential format. Your content session will be competing with dozens of other events happening at the same time so be creative with the format. Dare to be bold.
What we’re looking for
Originality and a dash of theatre. Innovate in the way you tell your story onstage. Bring a demo, introduce props, use some innovative audiovisual components. Something that gets people talking.
What we’re not looking for
Dull, overused formats with a panel of people that don’t bring anything new to the debate. If you’re doing an interview or panel, then prepare for it as much as you would a presentation with visuals to illustrate the points you’re making.
Thousands of people worldwide apply for a limited number of slots, so craft your pitch wisely. We want to see the new, fresh thinking in your proposal.
Think about your content session format
Make your time on stage an unmissable show that grabs your audience's attention.
How can you make their experience unforgettable? We’re not looking for traditional panel discussions. Be innovative, make a splash and wow the audience with your creativity.
Some formats to consider:
Workshops. This is your chance to offer a learning experience with interaction, challenges and working tasks.
Demonstrations. Maybe you have a new innovation to share or a live experiment? Show the audience, get them involved, don’t just broadcast!
Performances. Could your idea be better showcased through an artistic performance of dance, music or art?
Debates. Healthy disagreement can fuel creativity. Could you spark new ways of thinking through a dynamic discussion that brings opposing perspectives to the stage?
There are many ways to elevate your talk:
- An exclusive reveal or announcement
- Provocative interviews
- Supporting props
- Audience involvement, quizzing and polling
- The introduction of subject-matter experts
- The launch of research
What makes a good speaker?
We’re looking for creative problem-solvers, inspiring leaders, future-looking innovators and more. This is your chance to connect with the global creative community.
Here’s a checklist before you share your speaker nomination:
- They tell the truth. The best talks come from people who speak with honesty, not with over-rehearsed, safe polish.
- They go deep. They share the highs, the mistakes, and the moments that shaped them.
- They care about the audience. Every story, insight and example is built around what the audience will feel, learn or do next. It’s never about showing off.
- They have a point of view. Great speakers don’t play it safe. They bring opinions, predictions and provocations that make people think differently.
- They make it real. Data is good. But what sticks are stories, case studies and moments that bring ideas to life.
- They’re original. We look for people who bring something new to the table - a fresh take, a bold idea, a surprising truth.
- They command attention. Whether through quiet conviction or big-stage presence, they hold the room and keep it alive.
- They’re collaborators. Great speakers work with our team to shape something powerful together. They’re open, curious and willing to refine.
- They speak to the world. Cannes Lions brings a global community together. Strong speakers think beyond their market or category and connect across cultures.
- They inspire action. The most memorable sessions don’t just entertain. They make people want to change something – in their work, their thinking, or themselves.
- They care about craft. They arrive prepared, care about the details and deliver with pride.
Underrepresented voices
Anyone can apply to speak at Cannes Lions.
Each year, after the Festival, we conduct an audit of the speakers proposed in the Call for Content and compare this to the speakers that took to the stage.
Over time, we’ve seen improved gender representation in the session proposals, but we'd like to see greater consideration given to voices from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the speakers proposed to us in the Call for Content. We’d also like to see more disabled talent and LGBTQ+ experts being considered for proposals, as well as those from socioeconomic backgrounds that have traditionally been excluded from the industry regardless of race or ethnic origin. We especially welcome those belonging to more than one marginalised community who can offer unique perspectives due to their intersectional identities.
Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
We work with all our content hosts to help them bring a more diverse line-up of talent to our stage, and we’ll continue to do that. But for now, we ask you to think about this when planning your idea.
Challenge your own proposal
Why does the Cannes Lions audience need to hear your idea? Here are some practical questions to challenge your perspective and craft a compelling session proposal.
- Is this idea new, fresh and timely?
- Does this idea have a clear direction and will go into depth about the topic?
- What would be the ROI for attending this content session?
- Does this idea have the power to be provocative and ask hard-hitting questions?
- How will your idea resonate with the Cannes Lions audience?
- Is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion considered in every level of this idea? (In the speakers suggested, the sources of research, campaigns)
- Do the speakers have the authority to speak on this subject?
- Are you thinking out-of-the-box with your format?
Need some help?
We’re happy to help workshop your ideas. Get in touch with us at content@canneslions.com
Nominate a speaker to join an existing content session
The other route to becoming a speaker at Cannes Lions 2026 is by nominating yourself or others to join a session in one of our existing content series.
These include:
- Festival Meet-Ups
- CMOs in the Spotlight
- Future Gazers
- Debates
- ‘How to’ sessions
- New Voices
- Roundtable hosts
Calling all moderators
We’re looking for excellent interviewers with a journalistic background, inquisitive mind and a talent for getting the best out of speakers.
If you’re not sure which series is right for you, you can still apply. The Content Production team will match the right speaker to the best content session.
Festival Meet-Ups
The Cannes Lions Festival Meet-Ups are content-led networking sessions designed to spark meaningful connections and conversation across the global creative community. Hosted by industry leaders and icons, each meet-up brings people together around shared challenges, passions and ideas – from creativity and leadership to culture and innovation. These sessions are informal, energetic and built to inspire collaboration that lasts long after the Festival ends.
Format 1-2 facilitators
Who we’re looking for: We’re looking for passionate and engaging hosts who can bring people together, spark dialogue and create a space for genuine exchange. If you have a topic that excites you and the energy to lead an open, inspiring conversation, we want to hear from you.
CMOs in the Spotlight
The Cannes Lions CMOs in the Spotlight series puts the world’s most influential marketing leaders on stage to share what’s driving their brands forward. These conversations go beyond strategy decks and soundbites, revealing how CMOs are navigating transformation, unlocking growth and building brands that matter. Expect candid reflections, real-world lessons, and insights you can act on.
Format 3 CMOs + 1 moderator, 45-minute group discussion
Who we’re looking for We’re looking for visionary CMOs from the world’s most innovative brands – leaders who speak openly, think boldly and share practical lessons from the frontline of marketing. If you can move the industry forward with honesty and clarity, this is your stage.
Future Gazers
The Cannes Lions Future Gazers Series brings together the visionaries, trendsetters and creative provocateurs who see what’s coming next. These sessions explore the ideas, technologies and cultural shifts shaping the future of creativity, brands and society. Expect bold predictions, cross-industry perspectives, and frameworks for how to turn emerging trends into real opportunities.
Format 3 Future Gazers + 1 moderator, 45-minute session (presentations and a discussion)
Who we’re looking for We’re looking for original thinkers, cultural analysts, and innovators who can decode the signals shaping what’s next. If you can connect dots between creativity, technology, business and culture – and spark new ways of thinking about the future – we want to hear from you.
Debates
The Cannes Lions Debate series brings the industry’s most influential and provocative thinkers together to challenge the status quo. Each debate tackles a defining question for the future of creativity, marketing and business, pitting opposing viewpoints against each other in fast-paced, audience-driven exchanges. Expect sharp perspectives, fearless opinions and the kind of tension that sparks new thinking.
Join the debate, take a side and help shape the conversations that will define where creativity goes next.
Who we’re looking for Bold thinkers and confident communicators who aren’t afraid to take a stand. If you have a strong point of view – for or against – on a provocative topic, we want to hear from you. Submit your opinions to us.
Potential topics: • Is AI killing creativity or redefining it? • Should brands take a stand on every social issue? • Is performance marketing undermining brand building? • Has diversity in advertising become a metric rather than a movement? • Should agencies be paid for ideas or outcomes?
How to
The Cannes Lions How To series turns big ideas into practical action. These sessions go beyond inspiration to reveal the tools, techniques and proven approaches driving creative and business success today. Led by the people doing the work – marketers, creators, strategists, innovators and brand leaders. Each session is designed to help you take home something tangible you can use to elevate your craft and impact.
Format 1 speaker, practical, 45-minute session
Who we’re looking for We’re looking for practitioners, makers and problem-solvers with lessons worth sharing. If you can break down how you achieved standout results, transformed a challenge into opportunity or built something that moved the industry forward, we want to hear from you. This is your chance to teach the global creative community how it’s done on the Cannes Lions stage.
Sample topics
- How to pitch for new business
- How to turn rejection into resilience
- How to sell an idea
- How to negotiate
- How to prompt
- How to avoid burnout
New Voices
The Cannes Lions New Voices series spotlights the next generation of creative leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs shaping the future of the industry. Inspired by a concept first introduced by our sister brand Contagious, this series gives a platform to emerging talent and fresh perspectives, offering bold takes on what’s next for brands, creativity and culture. Expect energy, honesty and ideas that challenge the established order.
Format 1 speaker, 3-minute session
Who we’re looking for
We’re searching for the rising stars, not the established names. You shouldn’t be leading a department, agency or brand. This is a space for emerging talent – the people whose voices are often unheard but whose ideas can shape what comes next.
You should bring a fresh, fearless perspective on the future of creativity, brands or culture that sits under our Insights and Trends Content Stream (link to stream). Surprise us. Challenge us. Show us what others might be missing.
And one more thing – if you’ve spoken at Cannes Lions before, this one isn’t for you. We’re keeping the mic open for brand-new voices.
Roundtables
The Cannes Lions Roundtables bring together senior leaders, innovators and changemakers for candid, content-led conversations on the most pressing issues facing the creative, marketing and communications industries. These intimate, closed-door discussions encourage open exchange, collective problem-solving and honest dialogue between peers. Each session is designed to surface new ideas, foster collaboration and build meaningful connections that extend beyond the Festival.
Format 1 moderator + 8–10 participants, 60-minute discussion
Who we’re looking for We’re looking for skilled moderators and subject-matter experts who can guide thoughtful, balanced conversations, draw out diverse perspectives and keep the discussion focused and productive. If you can create an environment where peers feel comfortable sharing real insights and challenges, we want to hear from you.
LIONS Creators - how to get involved
What is LIONS Creators
The LIONS Creators experience aims to bridge the gap between creativity and business, helping creators, brands, media platforms and creative communities to connect and get the most out of the maturing creator economy.
LIONS Creators is focused on practical learnings, shared experiences and intentional interactions.
What we’re looking for
Got fresh perspectives on any of the topics below? We want to hear from you.
- How to be a more effective content creator in 2026
- Growth avenues for creator-owned businesses and audiences beyond platforms
- Building a sustainable creator infrastructure
- Long-term or equity-based creator–brand partnerships
- Channel-specific creator marketing case studies
- E-commerce, social commerce and user-generated content (UGC)
- Creator-led entertainment IP
- Live streaming for content creators
- Platform updates: Algorithmic changes, how to create better content and engagement, new tools
- Measuring the success of creator-led work – what matters in 2026
- New tools and formats for creators and how to use them better
We particularly want to hear from you if you’re willing to share deep insights and interact with the audience and participate in Q&As on or off the stage, and you’re one of the following:
- A creator who owns a successful business, from consumer brands to media companies to diversified conglomerates
- A marketer from brands that excel at social and creator marketing
- A platform executive who can help creators and brands navigate your platform’s ecosystem
- A commissioner or development executive from media companies who works with creators’ IP
- An investor supporting creator-led businesses
Formats we’re interested in
- Co-presentations and standalone talks
- Workshops or task-based, collaborative activities
- Detailed tutorials
- Roundtable group discussions
- Any other interactive engaging formats (no panels or fireside chats)
LIONS B2B Summit – how to get involved
What is LIONS B2B Summit
LIONS B2B Summit is a dedicated event for senior B2B marketers and business leaders to connect, share experiences, learn from one another and calibrate what great looks like in 2026 globally.
This is where the B2B community challenges old playbooks, forges powerful connections and shares bold approaches that unlock value. At its heart, the LIONS B2B Summit is dedicated to pushing the industry forward – showcasing creativity, data-driven results and the untapped potential.
What we’re looking for
Got fresh perspectives on any of the topics below? We want to hear from you.
- What actually works and drives results
- Learning from failure: Lessons from B2B marketing endeavours that didn’t work at first – or at all
- A candid look at the end-to-end processes that go into creating effective, excellent work
- Deep actionable insights backed by first-party data
- Communicating value creation effectively and getting internal buy-in, especially from senior stakeholders
- Untangling the complexities of B2B buying journeys and buying groups
- How to champion creativity and disrupt risk aversion and conservatism
- Transitioning from account-based marketing to account-based experience
- How to measure what matters – new KPIs and metrics
- How to do more with less
- Building authority, trust and influence
- Building a culture of creativity and structuring and upskilling agile marketing teams
- Talks that aren’t self-congratulatory or sales pitches in disguise
We particularly want to hear from you if you’re a B2B marketer who’s willing to share deep insights, interact with the audience and participate in Q&As on or off the stage.
Formats we’re interested in
- Co-presentations and standalone talks with rich visuals
- Workshops or task-based, collaborative activities
- Roundtable group discussions
- Any other interactive engaging formats (no panels or fireside chats)
LIONS Sport
What is LIONS Sport
LIONS Sport is a new global forum dedicated to the cultural and commercial power of creativity in sport. Taking place 24–25 June 2026 during Cannes Lions, the two-day programme will unite leaders from across brands, agencies, rights holders and media to explore how innovation and creativity in marketing is redefining the US$417bn sports landscape.
What we’re looking for
Got fresh perspectives on any of the topics below? We want to hear from you.
- The commercial effect of experimental approaches and creative risk-taking in sports marketing
- Traditional engagement metrics don’t work – so how do you prove the effectiveness of creative campaigns in sports marketing?
- Global, local or glocal? Creating culturally relevant campaigns that work across different markets but maintain local authenticity
- The role of AI and tech-enabled creativity in sport, from fan experiences to real-time content creation during live sporting events
- How to create a cohesive experience across the new fragmented media landscape in sport
- Personalisation at stadium scale – how data is driving real-time sports marketing and data-driven fan experiences
- Women in sport – show us how to tap into this growing market through successful campaigns, audience development strategies and unique creative approaches
- Fans account for over 65% of sports content engagement on social platforms – so how do you authentically engage with fan-led content and the creator economy?
- Making the most out of tight budgets to deliver breakthrough creative work and compete with entertainment industry production values
- Authenticity vs commercial pressure – balancing genuine storytelling with commercial objectives while maintaining credibility with increasingly sceptical audiences
Formats we’re interested in
- Co-presentations and standalone talks with rich visuals
- Workshops or task-based, collaborative activities
- Roundtable group discussions
- Any other interactive engaging formats (no panels or fireside chats)
How to submit
Submission forms
When you get to the submissions form, you’ll have the ability to ‘Save for Later’ so you can edit your submission before you submit it to be reviewed.
Please fill out all the fields to ensure that our Content team has as much information as they need to evaluate your speakers and ideas. You can submit multiple times. To view or edit your submissions, follow the link in your confirmation email.
Deadlines and timelines
November 2025 Open for session proposals and nominations
31st December 2025 Final deadline – no more session proposals or nominations after this date.
January – February 2026 The Content team will review all completed submissions.
February – March 2026 The Content team will reach out to all proposals we’re interested in
March – May 2026 If selected, you’ll be assigned a dedicated team member to work with you to develop your content session and speakers right up to the Festival
April 2026 The Cannes Lions 2026 Festival Programme is announced. You’ll continue to work with the Content team on your storyboard and technical delivery of your content session
June 2026 See you in Cannes for your technical check, and then…showtime!
