In 2018, the festival introduced several changes to better reflect the state of the modern communications world: including new categories, revising costs, and reducing the event from seven to five days.
[14] These included talks from Christopher Bailey, Jack Black, Jenson Button, Nick Cannon, Shepard Fairey, Arianna Huffington, David Karp, and Annie Leibovitz.
In 2004, British publisher and conference organiser EMAP plc (now called Ascential) purchased the festival from French businessman Roger Hatchuel – who had started managing it in 1987 – for a reported £52 million.
They judge submissions in Film, Film Craft, Industry Craft, Digital Craft, Media, Print & Publishing, Outdoor, Direct, Pharma, Health & Wellness, Design, Radio & Audio, Mobile, Branded Content & Entertainment, Brand Experience & Activation, Creative eCommerce, Entertainment, Entertainment Lions for Music, PR, Creative Effectiveness, Social & Influencer, Creative Data, Innovation, and Titanium, as well as Glass: The Lion for Change and Sustainable Development Goals.
In an article in The Guardian in 2009, WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell said the Cannes Lions awards were too costly to enter.
[26] Commenting on this industry recognition, WPP Worldwide Creative Director, John O'Keeffe, said: "Cannes is the only global, cross discipline show, covering advertising, design, digital, media, promo, effectiveness, and everything else besides.
The competition takes place during the festival week in Cannes in seven divisions: print, digital, film, design, young marketers, media, and PR.
[31] In June 2012, Cannes Lions announced that it plans to launch a new two-day event for creative communications in healthcare, wellness, and sustainability.
[32] In 2017 Lions Health was moved to take place at the same time as the main festival, but remains a stand-alone event in another part of the Palais.