2026 YOUNG LIONS COMPETITION
UNITED STATES HISPANIC

ABOUT

Círculo Creativo USA supports National CineMedia (NCM) with the U.S. Hispanic Young Lions competitions. NCM is the administrator of the official “U.S. Young Lions Competition" and LIONS Representative in the United States.

CATEGORY

For 2026, The “Team USA Hispanic” will have one (1) team: Digital.

TIMELINE

*Dates are subject to change

ElIgibiliTY

The Competition is only open to Teams consisting of two (2) young professionals who throughout the Competition Period are each (i) a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia with a valid passport and the ability to travel abroad (e.g., Winners are responsible for obtaining necessary passports and visas) for more than six (6) months after the end of the Competition Period, (ii) at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of registration, (iii) born on or after June 26, 1995, and (iv) working at the time of entry as an eligible employee or eligible freelancer for the following “Hispanic advertising agency” in the United States: Acento, Alma, Archer Troy Miami, BBQ Agency, BeautifulBeast, Casanova//McCann, Conill Saatchi & Saatchi, Creative On Demand, Creyentes, d Expósito & Partners, Dieste, El Autobus, Espacio, fluent360, Fuerza, Gallegos United, Infusion by Castells, inspire!, LERMA/, López Negrete Communications, Marca, MEL Messianu / Edelman / Lerma, MEM, Ogilvy Miami, Orcí, República Havas, Rest of the World, Third Ear, Upstreamers, WALO, We Believers, and Zubi Advertising, in any of the creative fields for the particular Category entered, as described in the Registration section, below (each a “Participant”). The “Competition Period” is from start of the Competition Registration Period through the end of the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, June 22, 2026. If a Participant who is an employee should leave or be terminated from his/her employer during the Competition Period and does not become an eligible freelancer or eligible employee of another company working in any the creative fields for the particular Category entered, the Participant and his/her Team will be disqualified. Employees and contractors of National CineMedia, LLC, Latin Market Circulo Creativo Inc. d.b.a Circulo Creativo USA (“NCM/Circulo Creativo USA” or “Sponsor”), Lions Festivals Ltd., and each of their respective affiliated companies, and the immediate family members of, and any persons domiciled with, any such employees or contractors, are not eligible to enter or to win. Winning Teams must be available to participate in a global competition from June 22-June 26, 2026, in person in Cannes, France. Winners of the NCM 2025 U.S. Young Lions Competitions are not eligible to compete in the 2026 U.S. Hispanic Young Lions Competitions. Any individuals who are participants in the official NCM 2026 “U.S. Young Lions Competition” may not enter or win this Competition. Students are not eligible to compete in the 2026 U.S. Hispanic Young Lions Competitions. All Participants must ensure they have the necessary financial resources to attend the Festival and are responsible for evaluating their ability to cover all related expenses prior to entering the Competition.

Prize*

The Winning Team from the Digital Category will represent “TEAM USA HISPANIC” during the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France from June 22-26, 2026.

This Competition does NOT provide any prizes, cash awards, stipends, or financial assistance of any kind. All participants, including winning teams, are solely and entirely responsible for ALL costs and expenses associated with their participation in the Festival. 

Each participant is responsible for covering ALL expenses including, but not limited to, Cannes Lions Festival registration fees, travel expenses (such as airfare, ground transportation, baggage fees, and travel insurance), accommodation costs (including hotel rooms, lodging, and all incidental charges), festival or event attendance fees, meals and beverages, gratuities, visa or passport application fees, communication expenses, and any other personal costs incurred during participation. 

Participants must evaluate their financial ability to cover all associated costs before deciding to enter the Competition. 

*Please refer to the Official Rules for complete prize details.

WINNER NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE:

On or about April 6, 2026, Círculo Creativo USA will contact each winning Team by phone or email, at the phone number and email address submitted on the entry. Both Participants of each Winning Team must provide Sponsor with written acceptance of the Winning Team’s prize within 48 hours of notification in order to receive the prize. If a Winning Team fails to reply in the time period specified, that Winning Team forfeits the Team 1st Place and a Runner Up winner may be selected from the same Category. Both members of the Winning Team must be able to travel to France for the global competition during the June 22-June 26, 2026 timeframe, plus associated travel time, or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate Winning Team will be selected from the Category Runner Ups (time permitting). After acceptance of the prize by both Participants on the Winning Team for each Category, the Winning Teams will be announced on the Competition website. The agency of the winning team will be determined by the dates of registration and entry submission. This determination will remain valid, regardless of any agency changes made by the winning team before the announcement of the results. The prize is non-assignable and nontransferable. No substitutions are allowed by the winner.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 17

QUESTIONS?

Contact: Paco Vargas at paco@circulocreativo.org