Ogilvy, Rethink, LePub and MJZ Top Cannes Lions Honours

The Lions have roared, the awards have all been doled out and the final tally has been totted up. So which companies have come out on top? 2026 has proven to be a strong year for WPP, with Ogilvy and VML being named #1 and #2 Networks of the Year respectively, having amassed 140 Lions in total, including seven Grands Prix.

Rob Reilly, Global Chief Creative Officer at WPP, said: "Great work needs brave clients, and this year's winners are proof of that magical partnership. From hijacking the Super Bowl in real time, to turning a supply chain disaster into a global brand moment, every one of these campaigns started with a client saying yes. That courage, combined with the ingenuity of our people, is what makes the difference. Congratulations to all our teams, and to the fearless clients who cleared the path."

The news is a welcome ray of positive news for the company and for CEO Cindy Rose. "Creativity is our superpower – it's what builds brand differentiation and trust for our clients. WPP is home to the world's most iconic agency brands, and this year at Cannes Lions that showed: two creative networks in the top three, the number one PR agency, the most awarded media group for a second year, and so much exceptional work that came from our creative, media, production and PR agencies working together. This is our integrated model in action, delivering growth for clients. I couldn't be prouder of our talented people across the world, and I want to give a massive thank you to our extraordinary clients who partner with us to deliver brave, ambitious work."

It wasn’t just good news for WPP; Publicis Groupe’s LePub in Milan took home Agency of the Year and their main client Heineken won Creative Brand of the Year.

Bruno Bertelli, CEO and CCO of LePub Worldwide, said: “Today is much more than a celebration of an award. It is the recognition of a journey built over years by people who chose to believe that creativity can become a true business model. This moment would not have been possible without Heineken and the extraordinary partnership we had built together. Bram Westenbrink and his team gave us something every creative agency hopes for: trust. They opened the brand to us, encouraged us to challenge conventions, and shared our belief that the best ideas are born when clients and agencies are willing to take risks together. Since 2020, when the world suddenly changed, we stopped thinking in terms of briefs and started thinking in terms of possibilities. Together, we created a different way of working - one rooted in curiosity, cultural relevance, and the ambition to build ideas that move seamlessly between global vision and local truth. Ideas that don't interrupt culture but become part of it. Seeing Heineken recognized as Creative Brand of the Year while LePub is named Agency of the Year makes this achievement even more meaningful because these victories belong together. They are proof that the strongest creative work is never built alone.”

Canada’s Rethink scored a double whammy, taking home both Independent Agency of the Year and Independent Network of the year. Production company MJZ won the Palme D’Or, thanks in part to the Coinbase spot ‘Your Way Out’, which took the Film Craft Grand Prix earlier in the week.

In an exciting home win for the city of Cannes, France was named Creative Country of the Year. President Macron shared a special video, thanking the festival and the global community while also lauding the local creative industry.

“French creativity is a national philosophy that flows through our fashion, as much as our luxury and our culture industry. And this award celebrates the creative attractiveness of our country. From the Olympics to its video game industry, France attracts talent. And from Cannes to Dunkerque, France attracts industries and capital,” he said.

He also took advantage of the win to pitch France as the ultimate investment destination.

“France is a country where your next studio, your next European headquarters, your next creative project should be established. This award also celebrates the richness of French digital creativity, which was also recognized at the last VivaTech summit. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

Full List of this Year’s Special Award Winners

Network of the Year

1. Ogilvy
2. VML
3. TBWA Worldwide

Independent Network of the Year

1. Rethink
2. Mother
3. Wieden+Kennedy

Agency of the Year

1. LePub, Milan, Italy
2. VML, New York, United States
3. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

Independent Agency of the Year

1. Rethink, Toronto, Canada
2. Isle of Any, New York, United States
3. Mother, London, United Kingdom

Palme d'Or

1. MJZ, United States
2. Biscuit Filmworks, United Kingdom
3. CANADA, Spain

Creative Brand of the Year

1. Heineken
2. KitKat
3. IKEA

Agency of the Year by Track

Agency of the Year – Classic

1. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

Agency of the Year – Craft

1. TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Los Angeles, United States

Agency of the Year – Engagement

1. LePub, Milan, Italy

Agency of the Year – Entertainment

1. DAVID, New York, United States

Agency of the Year – Experience

1. VML, Warsaw, Poland

Agency of the Year – Good

1. Motion Sickness, Auckland, New Zealand

Agency of the Year – Health

1. Fallon, Minneapolis, United States

Agency of the Year – Strategy

1. Publicis Conseil, Paris, France

Independent Agency of the Year by Track

Independent Agency of the Year – Classic

1. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

Independent Agency of the Year – Craft

1. Isle of Any, New York, United States

Independent Agency of the Year – Engagement

1. Special, Los Angeles, United States

Independent Agency of the Year – Entertainment

1. Wieden+Kennedy, Mexico City, Mexico

Independent Agency of the Year – Experience

1. WESAYHI, Sliema, Malta

Independent Agency of the Year – Good

1. Motion Sickness, Auckland, New Zealand

Independent Agency of the Year – Health

1. Klick Health, Toronto, Canada

Independent Agency of the Year – Strategy

1. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

In-house Agency of the Year

1. Apple, Cupertino, United States

2. Google Creative Lab, Mountain View, United States

3. L'Oréal, New York, United States