India has secured eight shortlists across the seven categories unveiled today at Cannes Lions 2026. Health & Wellness emerged as India’s strongest category with four shortlists, while Audio & Radio, Creative Brand, Print & Publishing and Pharma contributed one shortlist each.
Health & Wellness: 4 Shortlists
India picked up four shortlists in the Health & Wellness Lions category.
Indianis Dentris for Colgate by The Refinery Mumbai and Brand David was shortlisted in Industry Craft: Photography – Brand Led – Education and Awareness.
Project Golden Minute for Johnson & Johnson by McCann India, Mumbai was shortlisted in Direct – Brand Led – Education and Awareness.
Renu vs The City for St. Jude India ChildCare Centres by Ogilvy, Mumbai was shortlisted in Film Craft – Non-profit Health Education, Advocacy & Fundraising.
Ek Tara Project for Titan Eye+ by Ogilvy, Bangalore was shortlisted in Brand Experience & Activation – Health Services and Facility.
Audio & Radio: 1 Shortlist
India secured one shortlist in Audio & Radio.
The Unofficial Official Sound of F1 for Sting by Leo India was shortlisted in the Challenger Brand category.
Creative Brand: 1 Shortlist
India secured one shortlist in Creative Brand.
From a Sanitary Pad to a Basic Right for Whisper by P&G Whisper was shortlisted in Brand Positioning.
Print & Publishing: 1 Shortlist
India secured one shortlist in Print & Publishing.
The Kolhapuri for Kalapuri by VML India was shortlisted in Publications for Good.
Pharma: 1 Shortlist
India secured one shortlist in Pharma.
Sawaal Uthao for Tata 1mg by Humour Me was shortlisted in Integrated – Disease Awareness & Understanding: Direct to Patient or Healthcare Professional.
India did not secure any shortlists in Outdoor and Creative B2B.
The tally marks a sharp drop from 2025, when India had secured 22 shortlists across the same set of categories, led by Outdoor with 13 shortlists.
Among agencies, Ogilvy India emerged as the strongest performer with two shortlisted entries. Leo India, McCann India, VML India, Humour Me and The Refinery secured one shortlist each, while Brand David shared credit with The Refinery on Indianis Dentris. On the client side, P&G's Whisper also featured among the shortlisted work.
How India fared In these categories In 2025:
|
Category |
Shortlists (2025) |
|
Creative Brand |
- |
|
Audio & Radio |
0 |
|
Outdoor |
13 |
|
Print & Publishing |
4 |
|
Creative B2B |
0 |
|
Health & Wellness |
3 |
|
Pharma |
2 |
|
Total |
22 |
Earlier, the festival unveiled the shortlists for Dan Wieden Titanium Lions, Glass: The Lion for Change and Innovation Lions, where India did not secure any shortlist entries.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026 will take place from June 22 to 26, with winners announced throughout the week.
