Creative Academy
€2999 + sales tax @ 20%
An entire year of craft, delivered in just one week.
The Creative Academy is built for working creatives under 30 with at least two years' experience who are ready to reach the next level in their craft. Across a week-long, LIONS-accredited programme you're learning firsthand from the world's best creative minds, building a world-class network among a small cohort of peers, and still part of the wider Festival — the Palais, the Awards Shows, and the Closing Party included.
What am I going to learn?
Our programme changes every year – but we always build it based on four themes:
- Craft, the work and creative skills
- Wellbeing and resilience
- New technology and AI
- Career development and leadership
Who’s it for?
To join our programme, you must:
- be aged 30 or under (born on or after 25 June 1996)
- work full time in a creative role and have at least 2 years of full-time experience.
All creatives are welcome – art directors, copywriters, graphic/UX designers, creative strategists, directors, PR, creative technologists, freelancers, etc.
Please note that the programme is delivered in English. Only apply if you’re confident you’ll be able to participate in all discussions and collaborate with other programme participants.
How do I apply?
To join the 2027 cohort, you’ll need to complete an application that includes:
- an essay (1000 words max.) answering the following question: What do you think is the most creative brand in the world and why?
- a video (2 minutes max.), recorded in English, telling us who you are and why you deserve a space in the Academy
- a character reference (500 words max.) by your employer, your company’s talent officer, a senior executive of your company or a previous Creative Academy graduate.
Please ensure you have the funding approved to attend the 2027 Festival before applying.
To complete your application, select the Creative Academy pass and proceed to your Cannes Lions account to fill out the required information.
Please note that there are limited spaces available in each round of applications. We will close to all new applications on 23 March 2027.
How much does it cost?
The fee for successful applicants is €2999 + sales tax @20%.
Got questions about the Academies? Get in touch with us at academies@canneslions.com.
What happens after I apply?
The Academy Dean, together with the LIONS team, reviews every application carefully to determine the applicants who can attend the programme.
There are four rounds of application reviews, with a limited number of spaces available in each round.
Round 1 deadline: 29 November 2026 (up to 10 spaces) Round 2 deadline: 12 January 2027 (up to 10 spaces) Round 3 deadline: 13 February 2027 (up to 10 spaces) Round 4 deadline: 23 March 2027 (up to 5 spaces)
We’ll contact you within two weeks after the application deadline to let you know if you’ve been accepted.
If you’re selected, you’ll then need to confirm and pay for your pass. Please note, you must buy your pass within 14 days to guarantee that your place is secured.
Academy Dean
Alan Kelly
Alan Kelly is the former CCO at Rothco and Droga5 Dublin. He is Ireland's most awarded creative but hopes nobody fact checks this.
He has won numerous awards at The One Show, Clios, and D&AD as well as picking up a couple of Grand Prix at Cannes Lions. Alan has previously been busy on the judging circuit - judging at Cannes Lions as Jury President as well as D&AD, Eurobest, One Show & Clios before stepping away from agency life last year to look after his two young daughters.
Having been a student of Cannes Lions academies himself a number of years ago, he knows the excitement that’s in-store for this year’s academy and can’t wait to meet this year’s future stars.
Academy Tutor
Jillian Nguyen
Manager, Global Creative Content, Sony Pictures Entertainment, United States
Jillian Nguyen is a Manager of Global Creative Content at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where she supports worldwide campaigns for films such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Woman King, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, It Ends With Us, and Venom: The Last Dance. She began her career as an intern at Paramount Pictures before joining Sony as an Executive Assistant and later advancing to Senior Coordinator. As a 2025 Creative Academy alumna, Jillian is passionate about nurturing the next generation of storytellers and helping them build their creative confidence. When she's not camped out at her local movie theatre, she's reading books, learning tarot, or playing the piano. And if her dad is reading this, then her true hobby above all else is going to church every Sunday.
The Creative Academy is truly a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. Did I learn about advertising? Yes, but I learnt a great deal about other people and cultures far different to mine, which is of course the best thing any student looking to expand their creativity can learn about.
Michelle Melky
Global Creative Director
Amplify, Australia
The Cannes Lions Creative Academy is a rare opportunity to broaden our perspective not only on advertising, but on life as a whole. The programme is carefully prepared by a dedicated team, who bring in amazing speakers leading diverse and insightful discussions.
Maria Fiuza
Senior Copywriter
Droga5, Brazil
If you want to get inspiration and food for thought for 100 years ahead, grow as a professional in 5 days and find tons of incredible new friends from all corners of the world – the Creative Academy is for you!
Liza Popova
Visual Artist, Banda Agency
Ukraine Creative Academy Scholarship Winner
The Cannes Lions Creative Academy has been transformative. The fresh perspectives and firsthand practical insights from quite literally the best in the business have been invaluable. It has already had a significant impact on how I approach my work, and crucially, it's given me the confidence to act on these learnings.
Olivia Phillips
Creative Strategist
StrategiQ Marketing Limited, United Kingdom
