Australia claims Gold and Silver on opening day of Cannes Lions 2026

Australia has secured its first Gold and Silver Lions at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with TBWA/Sydney and mycar Tyre & Auto winning Gold for Sunburnt Car, and VML Sydney and 1001 Optometry winning Silver for Magnif-Eye.

Sunburnt Car took home the Gold Lion in the Outdoor category, alongside collaborators Eleven and BOLT Sydney/ODD STUDIOS. The campaign highlighted the dangers of Australia’s harsh UV conditions through a car upholstered in hyper-real ‘skin’, designed to mimic the effects of sun exposure on the human body.

From 1,410 entries submitted in the Outdoor Lions, TBWA/Sydney was one of just seven agencies globally awarded Gold.

VML Sydney won its Silver Lion in the Health & Wellness category for Magnif-Eye, in a category where 31 Lions were awarded from 889 entries. The campaign used smartphone camera technology and AI to help detect myopia in children by analysing photos uploaded via an app.

 

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Australian scoop at Cannes Lions 2026

Australia has so far secured 54 shortlists across categories including Outdoor, Health & Wellness, Audio & Radio, Print & Publishing, Social & Creator, Digital Craft, Direct, Film Craft, Design, PR, Industry Craft, Media, Entertainment, and Entertainment Lions for Sport.

Winners will continue to be announced each evening throughout the Festival, which runs from 22 to 26 June 2026, with all shortlists and winning work available to view via The Work: https://www.lovethework.com/en.

Stay up to date with all Cannes Lions global news here: https://www.canneslions.com/news.

Top image: Supplied

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