Sri Lanka’s next generation of creative talent is stepping onto one of the most prestigious global stages in the advertising and communications industry, as an eight-member national contingent represents the country at the Cannes Young Lions Competition 2026 in France.
The competition, held alongside the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is regarded as one of the world’s most important proving grounds for young professionals in advertising, media, PR, digital, film, print and design. It brings together national winners from across the world, giving emerging talent the opportunity to compete under intense creative pressure and showcase their thinking on a global platform.
This year’s Sri Lankan contingent carries added significance, with six members from Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka – the largest-ever team fielded by a single agency from the country for the competition.
Representing Sri Lanka across key categories are Sachintha Gunawardena and Hasith Dilakshana in Media, Azraa Saldin and Nirmala Premachandra in PR, and Afridi Hussain and Maveena Manickam in Film. Their journey to Cannes follows their victories at the Young Lions Sri Lanka Competition held earlier this year.
At the global competition, teams are given a real-world brief, often from a non-profit or purpose-led organisation, and must respond with a campaign idea within a highly limited timeframe. This format tests not only creativity, but also speed, clarity of thinking, strategic discipline and the ability to turn an insight into an idea that can influence people.
For the Media category, the challenge is to develop a channel-led strategy that can drive meaningful engagement. In PR, teams must create a strong campaign narrative capable of shaping perception and action. In Film, participants are expected to produce an original 60-second film that responds powerfully to the brief.
For Sri Lanka’s advertising industry, this representation is more than a participation story. It reflects the growing strength of young local talent and their ability to compete in an environment shaped by global standards, cultural diversity and fast-moving creative expectations.
Cannes Young Lions has long been seen as a launchpad for future leaders in the communications industry. For young Sri Lankan professionals, exposure to such a platform can be career-defining – offering access to global thinking, international creative benchmarks and a deeper understanding of how ideas travel across markets.
The presence of Sri Lankan talent at Cannes also sends an important signal to the local industry. It shows that the country’s creative community continues to produce professionals who can think beyond market size, budget limitations and local boundaries. In an era where creativity is increasingly measured by impact, relevance and speed, opportunities like Young Lions help sharpen the next generation of industry leaders.
The team has been supported in the lead-up to Cannes by senior mentors from Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka, together with Metal Factor, the local representative of the Young Lions Competition.
As Sri Lanka’s young creatives compete in France, their participation stands as a proud moment for the country’s advertising and marketing community – and a reminder that world-class ideas can come from anywhere, including Sri Lanka.
