As Cannes Lions 2026 approaches, the festival has revealed the jury that will shape this year’s global creative benchmarks, highlighting a shift away from centralized definitions of excellence.
This year’s line-up brings together experts from 51 markets, spanning agencies, brands, and independent voices, with stronger representation from Africa, MENA, and LATAM, alongside first-time participation from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Among the notable jurors are Britt Nolan from McCann North America, Rafael Pitanguy from VML, Julie Hogan from Meta, Dan Hill from Wieden+Kennedy, as well as Taj Reid from Burson and Aaron Starkman from Rethink. This mix of agency, client, and independent perspectives reflects the evolving structure of influence within the industry.
The role of the jury goes beyond selecting the best work. Their decisions define the standards that will shape what the industry considers relevant, innovative, and impactful in the year ahead.
As emphasized by the organizers, the objective is to ensure that work is judged through a contemporary, globally relevant lens that reflects real changes in how brands create value today.
Full jury list can be found here.
The 2026 festival will take place from June 22 to 26 in Cannes, where this jury will ultimately define what creative excellence looks like today.
