The UK advertising industry will once again return to Cannes Lions this June with a Government-backed growth mission to strengthen the UK’s global standing in advertising and support the global expansion of its creative industries.
Now in its sixth year, the UK growth mission, curated by the UK Advertising Exports Group at the Advertising Association, brings together UK companies looking to accelerate international growth and strengthen the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading exporters of advertising and marketing services.
The mission has become a catalyst for international expansion, helping UK businesses forge strategic partnerships, unlock opportunities in high-growth markets and elevate the profile of UK creativity on the global stage, with previous delegations generating commercial opportunities in markets including Saudi Arabia.
The growth mission forms a key part of the UK’s presence at Cannes Lions, delivered under the banner of UK Advertising and led by the Advertising Association as the official UK representative for the Festival. It is supported by Channel 4, Marketreach, The Guardian, Sky Media, Tesco Media, The Outernet and the Department for Business & Trade.
This year, UK Advertising will be based in the Empower Café, moments from the Palais, creating a dedicated hub for international industry engagement throughout the festival.
The missions will convene senior leaders from across the global advertising industry through a programme of exclusive roundtables with key international markets including the US, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and APAC, alongside thought leadership panels and high-level networking events throughout the week. The programme will also include the UK Advertising Global Reception, an invite-only gathering of global industry leaders, curated for high-level networking.
Advertising Association chief executive Stephen Woodford said: “The UK’s advertising exports were worth nearly £18bn in 2025, demonstrating how the demand for UK advertising has never been greater. As we head to Cannes Lions, we are ready to showcase the UK’s creative and technological expertise to the world, building on last year’s success with the UK in the top three most-awarded nations.”
Department for Business & Trade official Ameeta Virk added: “Cannes Lions is our global stage, a chance for UK advertising to show up loud and proud as one of the top three exporters on the planet. It’s where our ground-breaking creativity, world-class innovation and proven commercial impact earn the global recognition they deserve. More than just awards, Cannes is where UK creative companies spark international growth and forge powerful new connections.”
Next generation talent will also be championed at Cannes Lions, with the Advertising Association backing 12 creatives competing in the Young Lions competition. In addition, 31 jurors from the UK have been selected to judge creative and effectiveness work.
Ahead of the Festival, the AA will launch UK Advertising’s new industry campaign at the Outernet London in on June 15, celebrating the strength and global impact of the UK advertising sector and setting the stage for its presence in Cannes.
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