The Branding Conference has opened applications for a new edition of the Young Lions Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026 competition, continuing a project that enables young professionals from the communications industry to earn their place on the global stage.
The competition will take place on April 16, 2026 in Sarajevo, while applications are open until April 14, 2026 via the official platform. This is the ninth edition of the national competition, which year after year gathers young creatives from agencies as well as independent professionals, giving them the opportunity to work on real communication challenges and develop solutions within a clearly defined timeframe.
The competition format remains unchanged and is based on an intensive 24-hour creative process. Teams consisting of two people, up to 30 years of age, receive the brief immediately before the start of the competition, with the client’s identity remaining unknown until that moment. These are non-profit organisations or civil society organisations, which also gives the competition a humanitarian dimension, as all developed materials are made available to the client free of charge.
Participants are tasked with developing a campaign concept within a limited timeframe that responds to the communication objectives, strategy and target audience defined in the brief. In this way, real industry conditions are simulated, where creative teams are expected to demonstrate speed, clarity of idea and the ability to respond to complex market demands.
The competition takes place across three categories: Digital, Design and PR, with winners selected in each category. Among the three winning teams, a Grand Prix is also awarded to the best team of the competition, which will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the global Young Lions competition in Cannes in 2026. In addition to competing globally, the winning team will also have the opportunity to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with registration, travel and accommodation costs covered.
The competition process also includes judging scheduled for April 21, while the winners will be announced on April 22. The jury consists of experienced and award-winning professionals from the region, along with a representative of the client organisation, ensuring a balance between creative and strategic evaluation of the submitted work.
Young Lions Bosnia and Herzegovina positions itself as a unique platform for the development of young talent in the industry, but also as a direct link to the global Cannes Lions ecosystem. In the context of an increasing need for new ideas and agile approaches to communication, such formats are becoming a key space for testing the creative potential of a new generation of professionals.
Applications are open until April 14, 2026, and all interested teams can apply via the platform www.younglionsbih.ba
