Carat Wins Big at Cannes Lions 2026, Taking Home Media Network of the Year

Dentsu’s pioneering media network, Carat, has been named Cannes Lions 2026 Media Network of the Year, earning one of the industry’s highest honours following an exceptional performance across this year’s Media Lions awards.

Carat secured the title with a standout showing at the festival, that delivered: 3 Gold Lions; 1 Silver Lion; 2 Bronze Lions; 3 Shortlists.

The result reflects Carat’s ability as a true scaled agent, to connect brands and people through media experiences grounded in human understanding and powered by the collective expertise of its 12,000 specialists across more than 100 countries.

The recognition also demonstrates the strength of its client partnerships, for whom standout campaigns have included 'Could Have Been a Heineken' - which turned long voice notes into real-life beers-- that won two Gold Lions, and 'Dark Mode Ads' for Plenitude, which also won gold. Dark Mode Ads is a project designed to reduce the energy consumption of LED-screen advertising compared to traditional creatives.

Will Swayne, Global Practice President - Media & Integrated Solutions, dentsu, said: “This recognition is powerful validation of what Carat does best – bringing together creativity, data and technology to deliver the most impactful outcomes for clients.

Behind each shortlist, and every Lions award won this year, is a client challenge, a team obsessed with solving it, and work designed to make a difference.

At a time when our industry is being reshaped by AI, algorithms and fragmented attention, being named Media Network of the Year is evidence of what’s possible when exceptional talent, deep human understanding, market-leading agentic

capabilities and trusted partnerships come together. I’m incredibly proud and grateful to our teams and our clients around the world. This award belongs to all of them.”

Carat’s Cannes Lions win reinforces a growing industry reality: media networks are no longer just channels for distribution, but strategic partners shaping creativity, culture, and brand impact.