Dentsu’s global media network Carat has been named Media Network of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, one of the advertising industry’s most prestigious recognitions.
The award follows a strong performance by Carat at this year’s Media Lions competition, where the network won three Gold Lions, one Silver Lion, two Bronze Lions, and secured three shortlist placements.
Among the standout campaigns contributing to the achievement were Could Have Been a Heineken, which won two Gold Lions, and Dark Mode Ads for Plenitude, which also received a Gold Lion.
The recognition highlights Carat’s global media capabilities and its network of 12,000 specialists operating across more than 100 countries. The company said the award reflects its ability to connect brands and consumers through media experiences rooted in human understanding and supported by technology and data.
Commenting on the achievement, Will Swayne, Global Practice President – Media & Integrated Solutions at 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.”
The Media Network of the Year title is regarded as one of the highest honours at Cannes Lions, recognising networks that demonstrate excellence in media creativity, innovation and effectiveness through award-winning work across global markets.
