The cheat sheet
If you only read one page in this entire guide…read this.
1.
We don’t charge a fee for speaking on any of the stages, and we don’t pay speakers, either. If your idea is successful, the cost to cover the logistics behind your idea (travel, speaker fees, accommodation) must be covered by you, the session host.
2.
The deadline to submit is Friday 5 January 2024.
4.
Before you submit, review the Eight Guiding Principles. Remember, we’re looking for thought leaders to share fresh ideas live and exclusively on our stage. Your content must premiere exclusively at Cannes Lions – if it’s been presented elsewhere, it’s not right for us.
5.
Work on your elevator pitch. Distil your proposal into a single, clear idea or message. If you can’t summarise your talk in one sentence, keep going until you can.
6.
What do you want your audience to take away from your talk? What do you want to be known for by taking the stage at Cannes Lions? Think of what you’d like the headlines to be after your talk and aim towards that.
7.
If you’ve got a corporate or sales message, this is not the platform for you. There are more effective homes for these messages at Cannes Lions, and we’ll be happy to connect you with the right teams if you want. The stage is strictly for thought leadership.
9.
Be a storyteller. Be a challenger. Be refreshingly honest. These are all characteristics of the best talks that have taken the stage over the years. See examples of great sessions here.
10.
Don’t rush. We receive a lot of submissions with great ideas and passion at the heart, but we can always tell who’s filled out the form quickly to throw their name in the hat. Take time to workshop your ideas internally. Those brainstorming sessions are invaluable and can truly elevate even the most innovative ideas. Check out our tips on how to organise your brainstorming sessions in this guide.