India’s Cannes Lions 2026 shortlist count has risen to 18, with VML’s ‘The Slooowest Vending Machine in the World’ for KitKat emerging as the country’s sole shortlisted entry in the Brand Experience & Activation Lions.
As the 73rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity gets underway, India’s Cannes Lions 2026 campaign continues to gather pace.
The previously revealed categories spanned Craft, Design, Digital Craft, Engagement and Entertainment, broadening the competitive landscape as Indian agencies seek recognition across storytelling, design excellence, audience engagement and cultural impact.
Film Craft emerged as India’s strongest performer in this batch with three shortlisted entries. The finalists include TBWA\Lintas Mumbai’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ for Steadfast, Ogilvy Mumbai’s ‘Renu vs The City’, and ‘Jeere Mein Heera’ for RimZim Jeera by ZigZag Films and Talented.Agency.
In Audio & Radio, Leo India Mumbai secured a shortlist for Sting’s ‘The Unofficial Official Sound of F1’. The Design Lions saw two Indian campaigns make the cut — ‘The Art of Survival’ for Godawan by 22feet Mumbai in collaboration with Butterfly Cannon London, and ‘The Slooowest Vending Machine in the World’ for KitKat by VML Gurgaon and VML Amsterdam.
India also secured two shortlists in the Direct Lions through 82.5 Mumbai/Grey India’s ‘Blinkstop’ and VML India’s ‘The Kolhapuri’. In Media, shortlisted work included Mindshare India’s ‘Vim Ka Mahakadhai Record’ for Vim Bar and Ogilvy Mumbai’s ‘Box to Beds’ for Amazon.
These additions build on India’s earlier shortlist wins in Health & Wellness, Audio & Radio, Print & Publishing, Creative Brand and Pharma Lions categories.
However, India remained absent from several categories announced so far, including Digital Craft, Industry Craft, PR, Social & Creator, Entertainment, Entertainment Lions for Gaming, Entertainment Lions for Music and Entertainment Lions for Sport.
The performance comes against the backdrop of a strong showing in 2025, when India returned from Cannes with 32 Lions. The country had submitted 982 entries.
The 73rd edition of Cannes Lions will run from June 22 to June 26, bringing together creative, marketing and communications leaders from around the world. The first set of winners will be announced on June 22, with award shows scheduled every evening throughout the festival.
