Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that France will be recognised as the 2026 Creative Country of the Year.
The annual accolade recognises a country’s commitment to creativity across sectors including advertising, fashion, craft, technology, culture and commerce. France’s selection reflects its sustained focus on the creative industries and their contribution to economic activity.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “France is a country with an exceptional creative output. Its rich creative heritage and outstanding performance at Cannes Lions reflect a nation that understands creativity is a strategic economic asset that can drive progress. Since 2020, the French government has invested €10bn in funding to more than 20,000 creative businesses, and its cultural and creative industries generate €92bn in annual revenue. On the global stage at Cannes Lions, France has consistently ranked in the top 10 performing countries, and last year ranked 4th. Cannes has been the Festival’s permanent home since 1984, and the spirit of this very special culture and creativity are woven into the fabric of Cannes Lions.”
As part of the recognition, the 2026 Festival will include French creative showcases, events, stage talks and activations, including a networking event bringing together French and international delegates.
David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes, said: “This recognition carries particular meaning for us, given the inseparable ties between Cannes Lions and France, not only through the Festival’s deep history with Cannes, but also through the creative ecosystem it has helped to showcase for decades. France’s creative DNA is also 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. Being named Creative Country of the Year is a huge testament to France’s unwavering dedication to harnessing creativity as a catalyst for progress.”
France won its first Lion at the 1954 Festival for Camay Soap and its first Grand Prix in 1955 for Vins du Postillon. To date, it has received 1,603 Lions and 39 Grands Prix. At the 2025 Festival, AXA ranked first with 13 awards, including three Grands Prix for ‘AXA - Three Words’ by Publicis Conseil, Paris.
More than 250 individuals from France have served on Cannes Lions juries, including 18 Jury Presidents.
Under the initiative, French delegates will be able to gift one complimentary Festival pass to a France-based colleague who has not previously attended.
The Creative Country of the Year recognition for France is supported by AACC, the official Festival representative in France, along with Mairie De Cannes, Publicis, Havas, the IAA and Le Club des Directeurs Artistiques.
