Download the 2026 winning entries.
Iapi today announced the 14 exceptional young talents who are the winners of the prestigious 2026 Irish Young Lions competition, supported by Smurfit Westrock.
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.
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.”
Cannes Young Lions aims to provide early-stage career development to young professionals giving them a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage.
- 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
The selection process involved judging entrants across seven categories - Design, Digital, Film, Media, PR, Print, and Young Marketers - these talented teams demonstrated their creativity, skill, and passion. They tackled briefs for Media Literacy Ireland, delivering innovative campaigns with impactful results within a 48-hour timeframe.
The Irish Young Lions competition is supported by Smurfit Westrock.
The 2026 Young Lions winners were photographed by Conor McCabe.
