2026 Creative Country of the Year | France
Celebrating the best of Créativité Française.
We’re delighted to announce France as the recipient of the 2026 Creative Country of the Year Award.
The annual accolade recognises an individual country's exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity that drives progress and growth.
France's selection reflects its long-term dedication to creativity across advertising, fashion, craft, tech, culture and commerce. From the artistic movements that shaped modern design to the luxury brands that define global sophistication, France has consistently demonstrated that creativity is a national philosophy that permeates business, culture, and society.
France’s creative DNA is at the heart of “France 2030", a major national investment plan designed to help France close its industrial gap while positioning the country at the forefront of cultural and creative content production and immersive technologies.
David Lisnard
Mayor of Cannes
An exploration of Lion-winning work from France
Since its first Lion for Camay Soap in 1954, followed by its first Grand Prix for Vins du Postillon in 1955, the country has been awarded an impressive 1,603 Lions and 39 Grands Prix.
AXA - Three Words
The Final Copy of Ilon Specht
Group Therapy
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Paris 2024
Olympic Curry
Lidlize
The last birthday
Omnilivery
Choose Uber
Designing Paris 2024 25
Streetnav
Orange - Safer Phone
Disconnect
Historias Argentinas
Aya Nakamura : Haut Niveau, by Lancôme
Canal+:Super
The Iconic Playlist
Eat like your avatar
Madly/ The Poem - The Blaze
Rockseeds
See Them for Real
The Flame that wasn't a flame
The partnership that changed everything
Big wins for France at Cannes Lions 2025
French brand AXA ranked number one in 2025 following 13 Lion wins, including, including three Grands Prix for ‘AXA - Three Words’ by Publicis Conseil, Paris.
French talent at the Festival
Over the years Cannes Lions has welcomed more than 250 people from France to sit on its Juries, with 18 of these serving as Jury Presidents. Here are just a few of the French industry leaders who've been part of the Festival:
Jacques Séguéla
Jacques Séguéla
Chief Creative Officer and Former Co-Vice-Chairman
Havas
Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer
Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer
Founders
Coperni
Agathe Bousquet
Agathe Bousquet
CEO
PUBLICIS FRANCE
Anne-Lise Toursel
Anne-Lise Toursel
Head of Brand, Media and Creative Business Units
KANTAR
Bertille Toledano
Bertille Toledano
CEO
BETC
Cecile Lejeune
Cecile Lejeune
CEO
VMLY&R
Laurent Cayet
Laurent Cayet
Worldwide Director, Brand Equity and Content
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Rémi Babinet
Rémi Babinet
Co-Founder
BETC
Fouzia Kamal
Fouzia Kamal
Editor-in-Chief
BETC
Mathilde Delhoume
Mathilde Delhoume
Global Chief Brand Officer
LVMH
Yannick Bolloré
Yannick Bolloré
Chairman and CEO
Havas Group
Alessandro Manfredi
Alessandro Manfredi
Chief Marketing Officer, Dove
Unilever
Arnaud Belloni
Arnaud Belloni
Chief Marketing Officer
Renault
France is a country with an exceptional creative output. Its rich creative heritage and outstanding performance at Cannes Lions reflects a nation that understands creativity is a strategic economic asset that can drive progress.
Simon Cook
CEO, LIONS
Be part of it
French creativity at Cannes Lions 2026
Cannes Lions 2026 will feature French creative showcases, celebratory events, dedicated stage talks and activations across the city of Cannes in recognition of France's achievement. Details will be announced in the run-up to the Festival.
French delegates invited to gift a complimentary Festival pass
As part of Cannes Lions’ ongoing commitment to amplify fresh voices in the global creative community, French delegates will have the opportunity to gift one complimentary Festival pass to a France-based colleague who's never attended the Festival before – giving new talent direct access to the inspiration and transformative experience.