🎟️ What’s New at Cannes Lions 2025: The Week’s Biggest Announcements

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As the countdown to Cannes Lions 2025 continues, this past week has been packed with major announcements—from superstar speaker reveals and government-backed trade missions to can't-miss fringe events and fresh editorial insights.

Whether you’re prepping for the Croisette or catching up from your desk, here’s your all-in-one roundup of the Cannes Lions comms that mattered this week (May 15–22, 2025).

📬 TL;DR – This Week at Cannes Lions (May 15–22)

• Serena Williams, Bill Nye, and Jon M. Chu announced as headline speakers

• UK Advertising returns with trade mission, 12 Young Lions, 31 jurors

• Apple, Duolingo, and McDonald’s to headline major keynotes

• Jury and shortlisting teams officially confirmed

• Fringe events from Pinterest, Canva, and Stagwell heating up

🎤 Speaker Lineup: From Serena to Science Icons

The festival has officially unveiled some of its headlining talent:

• Serena Williams – Joining Reckitt for “Innovation Unwrapped,” the tennis icon and entrepreneur will discuss disruption, inclusion, and innovation.

• Bill Nye – The beloved science communicator is set to break down storytelling that makes impact measurable and ideas more human.

• Jon M. Chu – The director of Crazy Rich Asians will appear alongside VML’s Debbi Vandeven and SNL’s Bowen Yang to explore breakthrough storytelling.

• Neal Mohan (CEO, YouTube) – Taking audiences on a 20-year creative journey through the lens of the platform that helped define creator culture.

• Amelia Dimoldenberg – The Chicken Shop Date host will dig into digital authenticity and viral interview formats.

🇬🇧 UK Advertising Makes a Big Return

Backed by a UK Government trade mission, Britain’s ad industry is heading to Cannes in force.

• UK House: Will host private roundtables with senior stakeholders from the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia.

• Young Lions Competition: 12 top UK creatives will compete, following record wins in 2024.

• 31 UK jurors, including 3 jury presidents, will shape the judging conversation.

🧠 Festival Programming: Apple, Duolingo & McDonald’s Step In

• Apple: Named Creative Marketer of the Year, Apple’s VP of Marketing Comms Tor Myhren will headline with “Human After All.”

• Duolingo: Will reveal how to build brand obsession on social.

• McDonald’s: Global CMO Morgan Flatley explores creative innovation at scale.

• Reckitt x Serena Williams: Will explore how diverse leadership drives market disruption.

🏆 Jury Announcements

Cannes Lions released its full list of jury members this week—featuring 31 UK delegates and dozens of leaders across creative, effectiveness, media, PR, and entertainment categories.

🌴 Fringe Events You Shouldn’t Sleep On

From immersive pop-ups to beachfront programming, here are the alternative activations generating buzz:

• Sport Beach (Stagwell) – Exploring the link between fandom, fitness, and creativity.

• Pinterest Mani Fest – A physical extension of Pinterest’s evolving creative platform.

• Canva Creative Cabana – Featuring speakers from Mattel, Marriott, and even will.i.am.

Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit – Fireside chats and behind-the-curtain leadership content.

Stay tuned for more Cannes Lions coverage every week from Unofficially Cannes Lions.

And if you're heading to France? You’ll want to subscribe to our daily dispatch for on-the-ground interviews, hot takes, and behind-the-scenes intel.

Sources

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-cannes-lions-2025-speakers-im-most-excited-seeing-scott-dooley-bqlvc/

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-guide-cannes-lions-2025-lisa-rosenberg-cps8e/

• https://www.canneslions.com/festival/speakers

• https://lbbonline.com/news/UK-Advertising-Returns-to-Cannes-Lions-with-Government-Backed-Trade-Mission

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