In addition to the seven percent increase in submissions, there has been growth in 18 of the 24 Lions, according to Cannes Lions.
At the close of entries, Cannes Lions has confirmed that a record 43,101 submissions have been received for 2016, up seven percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, there has been growth in 18 of the 24 Lions overall, according to the Festival’s organisers.
Standout expansion of the Product Design Lions has been hard to miss at a 92 percent escalation, while notable increases in awards associated with three specialist streams include the prestigious Lions Entertainment, Lions Innovation, and Lions Health segments.
Formerly Branded Content & Entertainment, the Entertainment Lions category has seen a 32 percent rise to 1,843, while the new Entertainment Lions for Music category attracted 637 entries in its debut season. Additionally, the two awards linked to Lions Innovation have also grown.
Launched in 2015, entries into the Creative Data Lions have risen by 16 percent with a 69 percent leap in Innovation Lions—echoing the continuing explosion of data and tech-led creativity. The Pharma Lions and Health & Wellness Lions have also grown significantly (35% and 42% respectively) with a total number of 2,607 entries.
“We’re seeing evidence that the role of start-ups in the branded communications ecosystem is key, with new businesses and their products not only buoying entries to these two Lions, but driving deep into others as well,” said Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals.
Other trends included strong support for craft. The inaugural Digital Craft Lions received 1,150 entries. Film Craft has spiked by five percent, while the craft categories within other Lions have also surged. The full count of submissions for Cannes Lions 2016 is as follows:
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| Creative Data Lions | 619 | 715 |
| Creative Effectiveness Lions | 160 | 109 |
| Cyber Lions | 3,738 | 2,886 |
| Design Lions | 2,409 | 2,857 |
| Digital Craft Lions | – | 1,150 |
| Direct Lions | 2,813 | 3,097 |
| Entertainment Lions | 1,394 | 1,843 |
| Entertainment Lions for Music | – | 637 |
| Film Lions | 3,070 | 2,801 |
| Film Craft Lions | 2,205 | 2,315 |
| Glass: The Lion for Change | 166 | 155 |
| Health & Wellness Lions | 1,430 | 2,024 |
| Innovation Lions | 226 | 381 |
| Integrated Lions |
– |
279 |
| Media Lions | 3,179 | 2,986 |
| Mobile Lions | 1,246 | 1,259 |
| Outdoor Lions | 5,037 | 5,365 |
| Pharma Lions | 432 | 583 |
| PR Lions | 1,969 | 2,224 |
| Print & Publishing Lions | 4,470 | 3,775 |
| Product Design Lions | 280 | 538 |
| Promo & Activation Lions | 3,196 | 3,458 |
| Radio Lions | 1,720 | 1,410 |
| Titanium Lions | 374 | 254 |
| TOTAL | 40,133 | 43,101 |
“These numbers are a reminder that there are ebbs and flows, and that it’s best to take a long-term view. The Outdoor Lions are an example of that. An 11% drop last year prompted commentary about the decline, but this year we’ve seen a determined bounce-back, with entries rising by 7%,” said Philip Thomas, CEO of Lions Festivals.
Meanwhile, 387 judges across all juries began their assessment of the work on 14 June 2016. The first results will be revealed during the first day of the 63rd International Festival of Creativity on 18 June at the Lions Health awards ceremony.
