Iapi, the business representative organisation for Ireland’s creative and communications sector, announced the names of the 14 exceptional young talents who are heading to Cannes as winners of the 2026 Irish Young Lions Competition.
The Young Lions Competition is part of the Cannes Lions International Festival. Held annually in Cannes, the festival is the home of the world’s most prestigious advertising awards and is the epicentre for the global advertising and communications industry. The Young Lions Competitions are designed to give young professionals in the creative communications industry a chance to showcase their talent on a global stage. They are a high-pressure, high-stakes creative challenge that pushes young professionals to their limits and recognises the best of the best.
Media Literacy Ireland was delighted to be the official client partner for the 2026 Irish Young Lions Competition. The teams then had one weekend to develop powerful campaigns to support MLI’s mission of helping people across Ireland critically engage with media in an increasingly complex digital world – with a particular focus on tackling misinformation among the over-55 age group.
After a rigorous selection process, where entrants were judged across seven categories – Design, Digital, Film, Media, PR, Print, and Young Marketers – these talented teams demonstrated their creativity, skill and passion. The following rising stars will represent Ireland on the global stage at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity this June.
The 2026 Young Lions are:
- Design: Lara Fagherazzi and Jamie Craig, Core
- Digital: Emily Wilson and Rhea Chhaya, Omnicom Media
- Film: Ciara Murphy and Niamh Aremband, Droga5 Dublin
- PR: Ciara Farrell and Eve McSweeney, Harris PR
- Print: Hannah Murphy and Kate Dempsey, TBWA\Ireland
- Media: Dillon Dsouza and Lana O’Kiersey, Core
- Young Marketers: Darragh Spain and Fardosa Flanagan, 123.ie
Siobhan Masterson, CEO of Iapi, said: “Iapi is committed to supporting the next generation of industry talent through the Cannes Young Lions competition, where Ireland’s brightest early-career professionals gain invaluable global experience and exposure.”
MLI would like to wish all of the Young Lions the best of luck in Cannes and thank them for their inspired interpretations of the brief.
The Young Lions competition is supported by Smurfit Westrock. Read more about the winners and their entries at iapi.ie.
