June, 2026.- Cannes Lions 2026 has released the shortlist for the Outdoor Lions category, one of the Festival’s most visible competitions and a key benchmark for the evolution of out-of-home creativity, public-space communication, urban experiences and outdoor media.
The Outdoor Lions celebrate creativity experienced out of home, recognising ideas that use public spaces, outdoor formats, installations, screens, transit environments, live activations and ambient media to communicate a brand message or immerse audiences in a memorable experience.
The 2026 Jury President for Outdoor Lions is Aaron Starkman, Global Chief Creative Officer at Rethink. His leadership brings one of the industry’s most awarded creative perspectives to a category where simplicity, context, scale, craft and cultural relevance are essential to standing out.
The Outdoor Lions 2026 shortlist includes 135 shortlisted entries, distributed across 23 competitive sections including Consumer Goods, Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains, Media/Entertainment, Displays, Interactive/Dynamic Digital Screens, Special Build, Live Advertising and Events, Interactive/Immersive Experiences, Transit, Standard Sites, Ambient Outdoor, Technology, Local Brand, Challenger Brand, Single-Market Campaign, Social Behaviour, Use of Humour, Breakthrough on a Budget, Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility, Market Disruption and Cultural Engagement.
The selection confirms that contemporary outdoor creativity is no longer limited to traditional posters or billboards. Today, the medium brings together technology, culture, humour, purpose, social behaviour, immersive experiences, live activations and formats that turn the city itself into a dynamic platform for brand communication.
KITKAT stands out as one of the most represented brands in the shortlist, with entries including “Sipping”, “Daydreaming”, “Reading”, “Strumming”, “Listening”, “KITKAT Security Detail” and “KITKAT Break Billboards”. The brand continues to build a strong creative territory around breaks, visual culture and smart use of public space.
Heineken also has a significant presence across the shortlist, with work such as “Heineken Real Friend”, “Max Speed”, “Best Served Warm”, “Rooftop Revival”, “Socializing Billboards” and “Could Have Been a Heineken”. The brand’s entries show how outdoor can drive conversation, social experience and cultural relevance.
British Airways, The Ordinary, Back Market, McDonald’s, Heinz Ketchup, Coca-Cola, IKEA, Mercado Libre, Mercado Livre and Dirt Is Good | Persil are among the prominent shortlisted brands, demonstrating the diversity of sectors using out-of-home creativity as a platform for impact, differentiation and memory.
In Consumer Goods, shortlisted work includes campaigns from KITKAT, Amstel, IKEA Alsulaiman, Heinz Ketchup, Dirt Is Good | Persil and Heineken. These entries show how consumer brands continue to use outdoor as a powerful space for recognition, visual simplicity and immediate audience connection.
In Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains, British Airways, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s are among the shortlisted brands. Their work turns destinations, consumption moments, daily habits and urban contexts into creative messages designed to live beyond personal screens.
The Displays section includes “Max Speed” by Heineken; “Lime Guides” by Corona; “Dark Mode Ads” by Plenitude; “Best Served Warm” by Heineken; and “Discount Chants” by Mercado Libre. These entries underline the enduring power of visible, simple and high-impact outdoor formats in an environment crowded with visual stimuli.
In Interactive/Dynamic Digital Screens, shortlisted entries include “Chicken Screams for Coke” by Coca-Cola; “Discount Chants” by Mercado Libre; and “Ukraine Air Raid Alerts – Emergency Broadcast System Helsinki” by UNICEF Finland. These cases show the growing role of dynamic screens that can react, inform, entertain or activate audiences in real time.
Special Build brings together some of the shortlist’s most ambitious outdoor ideas, including “Crosses for Crisis” by Red Cross Flanders; “Humanity Chain” by Forte Bank; “In Living Memory” by British Heart Foundation; “He-Man Lightning Rod” by Masters of the Universe; “Terms and Conditions of Being a Girl” by Ville de Paris; “Tiny Coffee Shops” by De’Longhi; “Rooftop Revival” by Heineken; and “Field Barcode” by Mercado Livre.
In Live Advertising and Events, shortlisted work includes “Dirty Business” by Channel 4; “Playa Tecate Access” by Tecate; “The Second Chance” by Buchanan’s; “The Catrace” by Distance x Strava; “KITKAT Security Detail”; “The Chosen Fan” by Águila; “The LEGO Formula 1 Season & Drivers’ Parade”; and “Steph Curry Shoots the Moon”. The section demonstrates how outdoor is expanding into live experience, entertainment, sport and public participation.
Transit remains a powerful space for out-of-home creativity, with entries such as “McDelivery Speed Camera Ads” by McDonald’s; “The Hot Dog Connection” by Nathan’s Famous; “Wendy’s Tendy’s”; “Art’s Missing Period” by Kotex; “Let It Fly” by Saudia Airlines; and “KITKAT Security Detail”. These campaigns connect with audiences through real journeys and moments of movement.
In Ambient Outdoor and Technology, shortlisted campaigns include “Crosses for Crisis”, “Lime Guides”, “Field Barcode”, “Waoo Wifi Invasion”, “Heinz Dipper”, “TD Fractional Window Shopping”, “Dark Mode Ads” and “Cielito Lindo Billboard”. These sections show how the medium can integrate with, intervene in or amplify its surroundings through technology and contextual design.
Culture & Context adds a broad range of work across Local Brand, Challenger Brand, Single-Market Campaign, Social Behaviour, Use of Humour, Breakthrough on a Budget, Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility, Market Disruption and Cultural Engagement. The breadth of these sections confirms that outdoor today does more than communicate: it interprets social tensions, cultural habits and collective conversations.
The strongest markets in the shortlist include the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the United States and Brazil, alongside work from Mexico, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Italy, Colombia, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Uruguay, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and other territories.
Mexico is represented through work such as “He-Man Lightning Rod” for Masters of the Universe by GUT Mexico City; “Playa Tecate Access” for Tecate by LePub Mexico City; and “Cielito Lindo Billboard” for PPG Comex by Ganem Mexico City. The presence of Mexican work reinforces the region’s strength in outdoor creativity as a cultural and commercial platform.
The repeated presence of campaigns such as “Dark Mode Ads”, “Discount Chants”, “Rooftop Revival”, “Field Barcode”, “2036”, “KITKAT Security Detail” and “Heinz Dipper” across several subcategories highlights the versatility of the strongest outdoor ideas. These entries stand out not only for execution, but also for their ability to work across format, context, behaviour, technology, culture and effectiveness.
Outdoor Lions 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for out-of-home advertising, as brands seek to regain attention in physical spaces, spark conversation beyond digital channels and turn the city into a platform for interaction, impact and brand recall.
With this shortlist, Cannes Lions 2026 confirms that outdoor creativity is entering a new era. Out-of-home is no longer just a visibility channel: it is experience, urban intervention, technology, content, culture, public participation and real-time brand-building.
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
SIPPING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
DAYDREAMING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
READING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
STRUMMING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
“LOS CAMPEONES” RESTAURANT
AMSTEL, INGO
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
“LO DE FACU” PUB
AMSTEL, INGO
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
“LA GUITARRITA” BAR
AMSTEL, INGO
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
IS THAT A PINNTORP?
IKEA ALSULAIMAN, MEMAC OGILVY
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
IS THAT A HILDEGUN?
IKEA ALSULAIMAN, MEMAC OGILVY
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
IS THAT AN ULLERSLEV?
IKEA ALSULAIMAN, MEMAC OGILVY
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
IS THAT A STRANDMON?
IKEA ALSULAIMAN, MEMAC OGILVY
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
COINCIDENCE?
HEINZ KETCHUP, RETHINK
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
BETH MEAD
DIRT IS GOOD | PERSIL, FRANK
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
ALESSIA RUSSO
DIRT IS GOOD | PERSIL, FRANK
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
LOTTE WUBBEN-MOY
DIRT IS GOOD | PERSIL, FRANK
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
CHLOE KELLY
DIRT IS GOOD | PERSIL, FRANK
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
HEINEKEN REAL FRIEND
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
LONDON
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
MARRAKESH
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
BAHAMAS
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
BLIZZARD AS USUAL 1
TIM HORTONS, GUT
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
BLIZZARD AS USUAL 2
TIM HORTONS, GUT
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
BLIZZARD AS USUAL 3
TIM HORTONS, GUT
Shortlist
Media/Entertainment
TEAR…DROP
SPOTIFY, MACHINE_
Shortlist
Media/Entertainment
RAISED…HAIR
SPOTIFY, MACHINE_
Shortlist
Media/Entertainment
GOOSE…BUMPS
SPOTIFY, MACHINE_
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
LISTENING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
STRUMMING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
READING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
DAYDREAMING
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
GIMMICK
THE ORDINARY, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
HOAX
THE ORDINARY, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
BRIKSDALSBREEN GLACIER
BACK MARKET, MARCEL
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
LONE ROCK BEACH
BACK MARKET, MARCEL
Shortlist
Consumer Goods
RHÔNE GLACIER
BACK MARKET, MARCEL
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
NEW YORK
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
THE PYRENEES
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
ABUJA
BRITISH AIRWAYS, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
GIG
MCDONALD’S, LEO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
WEDDING
MCDONALD’S, LEO
Shortlist
Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains
BOWLING
MCDONALD’S, LEO
Shortlist
Displays
MAX SPEED
HEINEKEN, LEPUB JOHANNESBURG
Shortlist
Displays
LIME GUIDES
CORONA , GREY
Shortlist
Displays
DARK MODE ADS
PLENITUDE, LEPUB
Shortlist
Displays
BEST SERVED WARM
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Displays
DISCOUNT CHANTS
MERCADO LIBRE, GUT
Shortlist
Interactive/Dynamic Digital Screens
CHICKEN SCREAMS FOR COKE
COCA-COLA, VML
Shortlist
Interactive/Dynamic Digital Screens
DISCOUNT CHANTS
MERCADO LIBRE, GUT
Shortlist
Interactive/Dynamic Digital Screens
UKRAINE AIR RAID ALERTS – EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM HELSINKI
UNICEF, UNITED IMAGINATIONS
Shortlist
Special Build
CROSSES FOR CRISIS
RED CROSS, MUTANT
Shortlist
Special Build
HUMANITY CHAIN
FORTE BANK, PROGRESSION CA
Shortlist
Special Build
IN LIVING MEMORY
BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION, SAATCHI & SAATCHI
Shortlist
Special Build
HE-MAN LIGHTNING ROD
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE , GUT
Shortlist
Special Build
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BEING A GIRL
VILLE DE PARIS, BETC
Shortlist
Special Build
TINY COFFEE SHOPS
DE’ LONGHI, LOLA
Shortlist
Special Build
ROOFTOP REVIVAL
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Special Build
FIELD BARCODE
MERCADO LIVRE, GUT
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
DIRTY BUSINESS
CHANNEL 4, 4CREATIVE
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
PLAYA TECATE ACCESS
TECATE, LEPUB
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
THE SECOND CHANCE
BUCHANAN’S, DIAGEO
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
THE GREY SWAN
NYCOPLUS, 11:11
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
FIELD BARCODE
MERCADO LIVRE, GUT
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
THE CATRACE
DISTANCE X STRAVA, BETC
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
KITKAT SECURITY DETAIL
KITKAT, COURAGE
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
THE CHOSEN FAN
AGUILA, DAVID
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
THE LEGO® FORMULA 1® SEASON & DRIVERS’ PARADE
LEGO®, OUR LEGO AGENCY
Shortlist
Live Advertising and Events
STEPH CURRY SHOOTS THE MOON
RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP, KNOWN
Shortlist
Interactive/Immersive Experiences
THE SECRET INGREDIENT
THE ORDINARY, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Interactive/Immersive Experiences
FATAL QUESTION
STREETDOCTORS, SAATCHI & SAATCHI
Shortlist
Transit
MCDELIVERY® SPEED CAMERA ADS
MCDONALD’S, SCHOLZ & FRIENDS
Shortlist
Transit
THE HOT DOG CONNECTION
NATHAN’S FAMOUS, LOLA USA
Shortlist
Transit
WENDY’S TENDY’S
WENDY’S, VML
Shortlist
Transit
ART’S MISSING PERIOD
KOTEX, DAVID
Shortlist
Transit
LET IT FLY
SAUDIA AIRLINES, PUBLICIS KSA
Shortlist
Transit
KITKAT SECURITY DETAIL
KITKAT, COURAGE
Shortlist
Standard Sites
DARK MODE ADS
PLENITUDE, LEPUB
Shortlist
Standard Sites
KITKAT BREAK BILLBOARDS
KITKAT, VML
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
CROSSES FOR CRISIS
RED CROSS, MUTANT
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
MCDELIVERY® SPEED CAMERA ADS
MCDONALD’S, SCHOLZ & FRIENDS
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
LIME GUIDES
CORONA , GREY
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
FIELD BARCODE
MERCADO LIVRE, GUT
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
WAOO “WIFI INVASION”
WAOO, UNCLE GREY
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
HEINZ DIPPER
HEINZ KETCHUP, RETHINK
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
TD FRACTIONAL WINDOW SHOPPING
TD, OGILVY
Shortlist
Ambient Outdoor
THE CATRACE
DISTANCE X STRAVA, BETC
Shortlist
Technology
DARK MODE ADS
PLENTITUDE, LEPUB
Shortlist
Technology
CIELITO LINDO BILLBOARD
PPG COMEX, GANEM
Shortlist
Technology
UKRAINE AIR RAID ALERTS – EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM HELSINKI
UNICEF, UNITED IMAGINATIONS
Shortlist
Local Brand
SHOWROOM ON ICE
LOODS 5, OGILVY
Shortlist
Local Brand
ALUMINIUM BILLBOARDS
JÚPITER, FROM
Shortlist
Local Brand
ICEDENTITY
AGUILA LIGHT, DAVID
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
POLAROID FLIP CAMPAIGN
POLAROID, POLAROID INTERNATIONAL
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
THE PERIODIC FABLE
THE ORDINARY, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
A.I. IRRESPONSIBLY
BREWLANDER, BLKJ HAVAS
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
LET’S END FAST TECH
BACK MARKET, MARCEL
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
SLEEP TALK REVIEWS
IKEA, RETHINK
Shortlist
Challenger Brand
THE SECRET INGREDIENT
THE ORDINARY, UNCOMMON CREATIVE STUDIO
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
THE HOT DOG CONNECTION
NATHAN’S FAMOUS, LOLA USA
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
SUNBURNT CAR
MYCAR, TBWA\SYDNEY
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
LOOK FOR THE LEAF
MAPLE LEAF FOODS, NO FIXED ADDRESS
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
2036
ASSOCIATION ANTOINE ALLÉNO, HAVAS PARIS
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
DALAH’S SPOILER BILLBOARD
NETFLIX, VML
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
THE LAST COKE IN THE DESERT
COCA-COLA, VML
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
BACK TO KAI TAK
CATHAY, LEO HONG KONG
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
SOCIALIZING BILLBOARDS
HEINEKEN/IFOOD/MISCI , LEPUB
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
BROKEN SOULS
MUSEE DE LA GRANDE GUERRE, BBDO PARIS
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
THE FORGOTTEN ROOSTER
RENAULT, HAVAS PLAY
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
ROOFTOP REVIVAL
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Single-Market Campaign
IKEA BRIGHTON STORE LAUNCH
IKEA, MOTHER
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
2036
ASSOCIATION ANTOINE ALLÉNO, HAVAS PARIS
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
THE PARTNER-EXAM
CEPIA, VML
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
SPOTS FOR SHOPS
PARKIN, FP7 McCANN
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
YOU MUST LOVE COKE
COCA-COLA, GREY
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
LOOK FAMILIAR?
HEINZ KETCHUP, RETHINK
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
HEINZ DIPPER
HEINZ KETCHUP, RETHINK
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
DISCOUNT CHANTS
MERCADO LIBRE, GUT
Shortlist
Social Behaviour
COULD HAVE BEEN A HEINEKEN
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Use of Humour
DELIVER THE RAINBOW
SKITTLES, TBWA\CHIAT\DAY CHICAGO
Shortlist
Use of Humour
WHOPPER DOG
BURGER KING, DE LA CRUZ OGILVY
Shortlist
Use of Humour
IKEA BRIGHTON STORE LAUNCH
IKEA, MOTHER
Shortlist
Breakthrough on a Budget
STEPH CURRY SHOOTS THE MOON
RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP, KNOWN
Shortlist
Breakthrough on a Budget
HOCKEY SMILE
KFC, COURAGE
Shortlist
Breakthrough on a Budget
MAN’S TRUE BEST FRIEND
HUMANE CANADA & TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY, PANOPLY MEDIA INNOVATION
Shortlist
Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
UNCOVERING RACISM
SPORT CLUB CORINTHIANS PAULISTA, ALMAPBBDO
Shortlist
Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
ART’S MISSING PERIOD
KOTEX, DAVID
Shortlist
Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
LET’S END FAST TECH
BACK MARKET, MARCEL
Shortlist
Market Disruption
LOOK FOR THE LEAF
MAPLE LEAF FOODS, NO FIXED ADDRESS
Shortlist
Market Disruption
TEEN PHONE ADDICTION KILLS
MUMSNET, adam&eve\TBWA
Shortlist
Market Disruption
A SIGN FOR HOLLYWOOD
FIVERR, FIVERR
Shortlist
Market Disruption
SOCIALIZING BILLBOARDS
HEINEKEN/IFOOD/MISCI , LEPUB
Shortlist
Market Disruption
ROOFTOP REVIVAL
HEINEKEN, LEPUB
Shortlist
Cultural Engagement
2036
ASSOCIATION ANTOINE ALLÉNO, HAVAS PARIS
Shortlist
Cultural Engagement
COKESTICKS
COCA-COLA, OGILVY
Shortlist
Cultural Engagement
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BEING A GIRL
VILLE DE PARIS, BETC
Shortlist
Cultural Engagement
IT STARTS OUTSIDE
DIRT IS GOOD | PERSIL, FRANK
