Young Lions Australia 2025 Entries Open
Aged 30 or under and ready to make history in Cannes? Advertising Council Australia (ACA), the national representative of Cannes Lions, has launched the 2025 Young Lions Australia Competition - the ultimate challenge for the industry's next wave of creative trailblazers.
If you work in advertising, media, marketing, PR or film, this is your shot at career-defining glory—an opportunity to represent Australia at the world’s most prestigious advertising festival, Cannes Lions, held on the French Riviera from June 16-20 next year.
NEW IN 2025
To mark the competition’s milestone 30th year, ACA has introduced new enhancements to give competition entrants the best chance of winning gold:
Unprecedented industry support
For the first time, industry bodies the AANA, MFA, IAB Australia, and ACA will unite behind 2025’s Young Lions, appointing five Jury Chairs, all leaders in their field, to oversee the competition briefs and judging.
Mentoring from past winners, industry experts
Australia’s 2024 Young Lions alumni will mentor entrants, sharing insider tips from their Cannes experience to help craft standout presentations. One-on-one training from industry experts will further prepare local winners to excel on the global stage.
Cannes-style speed challenge
The local competition will now mirror the intensity of Cannes Young Lions in France, with a compressed four-day format to better prepare participants for the infamous 24-hour creative sprint. Only those who think and create fast will make it through.
Accommodation in the heart of Cannes: The winning teams will fly to Cannes in June, staying just a short walk from the Palais, and will have access to a dedicated support team. Festival passes, access to speaker sessions, flights and transfers are all included.
Tony Hale, CEO of Advertising Council Australia, said, “Young Lions is undeniably the pinnacle of international competitions for emerging industry talent—the benchmark every other creative competition strives to emulate.
“With expanded industry support in 2025, entrants will have an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their expertise and make their mark on the global stage. This really is the most remarkable career opportunity any young person in advertising, media, PR or marketing could have.”
Entries will be judged online by a renowned panel of industry specialists, and the top teams in each category will present their submissions live in Sydney in early April.
The winning team in each category will then be flown to Cannes to compete against their international counterparts.
Early bird registration is now open, offering a $100 discount until midnight AEDT on December 24 2024. The early bird cost for a team of two is just $200 + GST. General registrations close on March 11, 2025.
Learn more about the competition and sign up here.
Key dates
- Early bird registrations open: December 2 2024
- Early bird registrations close: December 24 2024
- Registrations close: March 11 2025
- Competition brief available: March 19 2025
- Webinar with charity & judges March 20 2025
- Entries due: March 23 2025
- Online judging: March 26–April 1 2025
- Finalists announced: April 4 2025
- Live presentations, Syd: April 11 2025
- Winners announced: April 11 2025
- Cannes Lions Festival: June 16–20 2025
