We are delighted to announce the winners of the UK Young Lions Competition 2026.
We received over 150 entries and the work was of an incredibly high standard. We would like to thank all the entrants for taking part and our wonderful panel of judges for their valued feedback.
This year’s brief was provided by The News Alliance. Launched in March 2025, this cross‑industry coalition champions professionally crafted, regulated news as a powerful, brand‑safe environment for advertisers and agencies. Its members share a deep belief in the value of trusted news media – not only to defend against misinformation, but as an effective advertising platform.
The brief was to create a compelling campaign platform for news media with a strong cross‑channel idea, a memorable one‑liner, and a clear call to action. The task demanded a tone that was positive yet persuasive – one that would inspire advertisers and agencies to play an active role in sustaining the future of news.
Sarah Jones, Director of Planning at Sky Media and Chair of The News Alliance, said:
“Wow! We have been completely blown away by the calibre of entries, the creativity around the brief and the sheer passion coming through for news media and trusted journalism from these wonderful Young Lions. It’s heartening to see such clever and creative ideas for promoting news media to advertisers and agencies. To all the teams we’d like to say thank you – the time, effort and thinking they all put into the brief has been truly inspiring. And to the winners, massive congratulations – we’ll see you in Cannes.”
Below you can find our 12 winners and their winning work. Their prize is the opportunity to take part in the Global Young Lions Competition in Cannes.
DESIGN WINNERS
Georgia Pizzala, Midweight Designer, The Romans
Georgia is a Designer at The Romans, specialising in branding and illustrations, with a love for photography. She began her career at Central Saint Martins and over the past 10 years has worked across multiple creative roles. You can find her design fingerprints on globally renowned brands spanning every sector.
Holly Stephens, Junior Designer, The Romans
Following a four-year run of studying Design at Edinburgh University, Holly transferred from intern to permanent designer at creative PR agency, The Romans. After just six months on the job, she’s worked on 360 campaigns for global brands such as McLaren, Lidl, Heineken and many more.
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
We couldn’t be happier to have been given the opportunity to represent the UK and The Romans at Cannes! When we’re not tackling the brief and creating sick desgins, you’ll find us sipping on rose, topping up tans and hanging out with talented designers from across the world. Let’s gooooo!
View their winning work here
DIGITAL WINNERS
Olivia Phillips, Creative Strategist, StrategiQ
Liv is a Creative Strategist who solves complex brand and business challenges with her big-picture thinking. With three years of experience across global brands and regional startups, she is thrilled to return to Cannes this summer as a Young Lion, having been a part of the Creative Academy last year.
Marco Choi, Designer, StrategiQ
From Hong Kong to London, Marco is a creative who finds clarity in complexity. Currently at StrategiQ, he brings 7 years of experience across branding, art direction, UI/UX, and design systems – building from concept to craft and translating strategy into distinctive visual language.
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
It’s a massive honour to be recognised this way and have the chance to compete alongside – and be inspired by – some of the best creatives in the world. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity and to say we’re buzzing is an understatement!
View their winning work here
FILM WINNERS
Sunny Winter, Producer, Boxlight Creative Studio
Sunny Winter is a multi award-winning producer leading content at Boxlight and Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future. He has produced episodes with world leaders across the UK and internationally, filming everywhere from Downing Street to global stages, with work that has shaped national conversations and driven front-page news agendas.
Ciara Ferreira, Creative, Sky Creative
Ciara is a London-based, award-winning creative at Sky Creatice, working across some of the UK’s biggest sporting campaigns. Her work is seen on screens across the country every week, mixing bold creative thinking with sharp editing and a lifelong love of Formula 1.
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
We’re absolutely thrilled to be representing the UK at Cannes Young Lions. We know the standard of entries each year is incredibly high, so this means a lot – especially as this is our second year submitting. We’ll give it everything and hope to do the UK and the Advertising Association proud.
View their winning work here
MARKETERS WINNERS
Stephanie Weir, Senior Brand Manager, Kenvue
Steph is a Senior Brand Manager at Kenvue, with experience across legendary local and global brands spanning from health-care to skin health. She’s passionate about delivering impact for consumers & driving brand growth through creativity and strategic thinking.
Jessica King, Brand Manager, Kenvue
Jessie is a Brand Manager at Kenvue who’s worked across iconic brands like Calpol, Johnson’s Baby and Nicorette. She’s passionate about creative that drives real impact and is always curious, always learning anf always looking for way to push ideas further.
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
After years of admiring the epic marketing celebrated at Cannes, we are so excited to get involved ourselves! We’re a strategy-meets-creativity duo, who love a problem to solve. Ready to learn from the best, challenge ourselves, and take our thinking over from the south of England to the south of France!
View their winning work here
MEDIA WINNERS
Jenny Brown, Director, Audience and Data Strategy, UM
Since her first role as a paid social grad, Jenny’s media career has since evolved across strategy, planning and insights. She is currently channelling all she has learnt with her passion for uncovering human insights in her Audience Director role. A first time CYL entrant, she is very happy to retire at 30 with a 100% success rate!
Hannah Sanderson, Associate Strategy Director, UM
Starting her career as an Account Exec fresh out of university, Hannah found a love for creative and culturally led media strategies. She’s now been working as a strategist for 5 years and has had the opportunity to work across some of the world’s biggest brands. Having placed runner-up in the Cannes Young Lions Media competition in 2024, it became her goal to win the UK competition before she turned 30!
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
We can’t believe it, what an honour to get to represent the UK at the global competition at Cannes this year. We are absolutely buzzing to be picked as the winners of the CYL media competition, but even more buzzing to get to go to Cannes.
View their winning work here
PRINT WINNERS
Sam Isaacs, Creative, Atomic London
5 years into his advertising career, Sam is a Kiwi creative attempting to make a name for himself in London. His love of the New York Times Games (plus his passion for cleverly crafted ideas) has helped him become the creative he is today.
Bea Greenwood, Senior Account Manager, Atomic London
Having navigated everything from start-ups to global agencies with a curious, can-do attitude, Bea has worked across a bunch of leading brands and knows a thing or two about good ideas. When she’s not on the job, Bea’s usually sailing, running, or playing the viola.
What does it mean to be representing the UK in the Global Young Lions Competition?
It’s a definite pinch me (us?) moment. With the calibre of creativity that Young Lions represents, we couldn’t believe we had been chosen to represent the UK globally in France, but we’ll certainly be doing our best to take the top spot. And failing that, at least there’ll be croissants.
View the winning work here
View the UK Young Lions Runners-up work here
About The News Alliance:
The News Alliance launched in March 2025 with a bold ambition: to champion professionally crafted, regulated news as a powerful, brand‑safe environment for advertisers and agencies.
As a cross‑industry coalition, its members share a deep belief in the value of trusted news media – not only to defend against misinformation, but as an effective advertising platform.
Evidence consistently shows that advertising alongside credible, regulated journalism drives results and is brand safe, regardless of topic. Yet investment in news remains challenging, as ad spend accelerates into unregulated environments.
The News Alliance exists to change this trajectory. Through clear, actionable steps, it urges advertisers and agencies to rethink brand safety in the context of news, review blocklists that unfairly penalise quality journalism, and actively invest in trusted news environments – because they work.
Alliance members include Bountiful Cow, British Society of Magazine Editors, Campaign, DAIVID, Ebiquity, Electric Glue, Havas Media Network, Haymarket Automotive, Media Lab, Newsworks, Ozone, PPA, Radiocentre, Sky Media, the7stars, Thinkbox, and World Media Group.
