Cannes Lions honours France as the 2026 Creative Country of the Year

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that France will be recognised as the recipient of the 2026 Creative Country of the Year, the annual accolade that recognises a country’s exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity that drives progress and growth. France’s selection reflects its long-term dedication to creativity across advertising, fashion, craft, tech, culture and commerce. From the artistic movements that shaped modern design to the luxury brands that define global sophistication, France has consistently demonstrated that creativity is a national philosophy that permeates business, culture and society. 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 this recognition, the 2026 Festival will feature French creative showcases, celebratory events, dedicated stage talks and French-led activations – including a networking event, bringing together the French and global community in celebration of French creativity.

Cannes Lions Introduces Creative Country of the Year Award

At the 2025 Cannes Lions festival in France, a new award was launched called the Creative Country of the Year. The Creative Country of the Year is an experiential initiative that spotlights the brilliance of a country’s creative output at the world’s biggest celebration of history-making creativity. It is an annual accolade that recognises one nation’s exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity that drives progress.

The new award’s mission is to provide a significant growth platform for the chosen country, supercharging its creative economy on an international stage. It delivers the truly global experience our delegates want from their time at Cannes Lions by providing meaningful insight into creativity and culture from different corners of the world.

Why This Matters:

Countries and governments that invest in creativity and the broader creative industries have seen measurable economic and social benefits. Here’s a look at the stats:

  • Creative industries are among the world’s fastest-growing sectors, with the creative economy currently being valued at approximately $2.3 trillion globally.
  • The creative economy has a powerful multiplier effect: $1 spent creates $2.5 of wealth for the broader economy.
  • Creative industries account for nearly 50 million jobs worldwide. UNESCO estimates that the cultural and creative industries account for 6.2% of global employment Plus, countries that invest in creativity see the impact beyond traditional economic measures, including:
  • Driving cultural evolution and social change
  • Integrating with education, healthcare, and urban development
  • Elevating storytelling and amplifying underrepresented voices
  • Contributing to innovation across multiple sectors.

Who Can Apply?

Anyone can apply on behalf of a country for Creative Country of the Year. Ideally, it is meant for government agencies, industry associations or private sector organisations who can spearhead the project and bring the activation to life, recruiting the relevant partners to accurately represent their market.

How Do You Select Who Receives the Accolade?

The Creative Country of the Year is selected through a comprehensive evaluation process that considers:

  • Creative excellence demonstrated through international recognition
  • Measurable economic growth driven by creative industries
  • Global influence through innovative ideas and approaches.

When a single country shows an exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity, it invariably drives progress and growth. This is what is being celebrated through the Creative Country of the Year accolade.

Has your country made an exceptional contribution to the creative industry? This is your moment to have it recognised on the global stage at Cannes Lions 2026.