Six Kenyan creatives have been selected to represent the country at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2026 in France after emerging winners of the second edition of the Cannes Young Lions Kenya competition.
Kinjal Shekh and Muskaan Shaikh won in the digital category, Michelle Shingi and Nidhi Buty triumphed in the film category, while Gichimu Ikua and Victor Mureithi secured the design category title.
The competition, held at the Tusker Microbrewery from 6 to 8 February 2026, brought together 42 of Kenya’s most promising young creatives across digital, design and film disciplines. Participants were challenged to develop bold and innovative solutions under intense time pressure, mirroring the global Young Lions format.
Victor Mureithi described the win as a defining milestone for the country’s creative industry.
“Winning the Cannes Young Lions Kenya competition is an incredible honour. I am filled with joy and gratitude. This moment proves that bold ideas, hard work and believing in your voice truly matter. I am proud to represent a new generation of Kenyan creatives ready to dream bigger, go further and really looking forward to flying the Kenyan flag high in the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2026 in France,” he said.
Safaricom, one of the event’s key supporters, highlighted the importance of investing in creative talent as part of Kenya’s digital future.
“At Safaricom, we believe that the future of Kenya’s digital economy lies in the hands of our young creatives. Young Lions Kenya gives them the opportunity to think differently, collaborate, elaborate and turn their creativity into solutions that can make them compete anywhere in the world,” said Zizwe Awuor, Head of Brand and Marketing at Safaricom PLC.
The second edition of the competition was supported by partners including East African Breweries Limited, MB 96 and The Quollective, all of whom contributed to the delivery of the event.
Tusker, through its parent company Kenya Breweries Limited, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting creative talent in the country.
“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, carrying our stories, culture and creativity to the world,” said KBL Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo. “Our partnership aligns with our longstanding commitment to championing creativity and innovation with an aim to ensure Kenya has a strong voice on the global stage.”
The Quollective also underscored the importance of nurturing local talent and creating opportunities for collaboration and mentorship within the region’s creative industry.
“Partnering with Young Lions Kenya allows us to create opportunities for creative talent. We are committed to building platforms where creativity can thrive through collaboration, mentorship and real opportunity,” said Emuron Alemu, Chief Creative Officer at The Quollective.
The winners will now travel to France to compete at the global Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, where they will represent Kenya on one of the world’s most prestigious stages for advertising and creative communications.
