Six Kenyan creatives have been selected to represent the country at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2026 in France after winning the second edition of the Cannes Young Lions Kenya competition held in Nairobi.
Kenya will be represented by six young creatives at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2026 in France following the conclusion of the second edition of the Cannes Young Lions Kenya competition, a platform aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging talent in the country’s creative and advertising industry.
Kinjal Shekh and Muskaan Shaikh emerged winners in the digital category, Michelle Shingi and Nidhi Buty clinched the film category, while Gichimu Ikua and Victor Mureithi topped the design category. The three winning teams will now go on to compete against peers from around the world at the global Cannes Lions Festival, widely regarded as the most prestigious event in the creative communications industry.
Intense competition tests Kenya’s rising talent
The competition, held at the Tusker Microbrewery from February 6 to 8, 2026, brought together 42 of Kenya’s most promising young creatives across the digital, design and film categories. Participants were challenged to deliver bold, innovative and commercially relevant solutions under tight timelines, mirroring the pressure and demands of the global creative industry.
The event tested not only creative skill, but also collaboration, strategic thinking and the ability to translate ideas into compelling executions—competencies increasingly critical as Kenya’s creative economy grows in scale and sophistication.
Global exposure for local creativity
For the winning teams, the Cannes Lions platform offers exposure to global brands, agencies and industry leaders, positioning Kenya’s creative sector on the international stage.
“Winning the Cannes Young Lions Kenya competition is an incredible honour. I’m filled with joy and gratitude,” said Victor Mureithi, winner in the design category. “This moment proves that bold ideas, hard work and believing in your voice truly matter. I’m proud to represent a new generation of Kenyan creatives ready to dream bigger, go further and fly the Kenyan flag high in France.”
Kenya’s participation in Cannes Lions comes at a time when the country’s creative, advertising and digital sectors are gaining recognition as key contributors to the broader digital economy, particularly in areas such as branding, storytelling, content production and digital innovation.
Corporate backing and industry support
The competition received backing from several corporate and industry players, underlining the growing role of private sector support in developing creative talent.
Safaricom PLC, a long-time supporter of youth innovation and digital creativity, played a central role in backing the initiative. Zizwe Awuor, Head of Brand and Marketing at Safaricom, said the programme aligns with the company’s vision for Kenya’s digital future.
“At Safaricom, we believe that the future of Kenya’s digital economy lies in the hands of our young creatives,” Awuor said. “Young Lions Kenya gives them the opportunity to think differently, collaborate and turn their creativity into solutions that can compete anywhere in the world.”
East African Breweries Limited (EABL), through its Tusker brand, was also a key supporter of the event. KBL Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo said the partnership reflects the brewer’s commitment to championing creativity and innovation.
“Tusker is proud to support Young Lions Kenya, a platform that continues to empower the next generation of Kenyan creatives as they prepare to represent the country at Cannes Lions Festival,” Kilonzo said. “Our partnership aligns with our longstanding commitment to ensuring Kenya has a strong voice on the global stage.”
Building a pipeline for creative exports
Creative agency collective The Quollective, another partner in the competition, said initiatives such as Young Lions Kenya are critical to reshaping the region’s creative landscape by creating structured pathways for talent development.
“Partnering with Young Lions Kenya allows us to create opportunities for creative talent,” said Emuron Alemu, Chief Creative Officer at The Quollective. “We’re committed to building platforms where creativity can thrive through collaboration, mentorship and real opportunity.”
As Kenya positions itself as a regional hub for advertising, film, design and digital content, industry stakeholders say global platforms such as Cannes Lions provide an important benchmark for quality and competitiveness.
The six winners will now undergo further preparation ahead of the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2026, where they will compete against young creatives from other national competitions, showcasing Kenyan ideas, culture and storytelling on a global stage.
