YLC Terms and Conditions

Eligibility

Age Requirement: All participants must be 30 years old or younger by June 26, 2026.
Residency & Employment: Participants must be resident and professionally active in a West, East, or Central African (WECA) country where a Cannes Lions Representative is not already organizing a national Young Lions competition.
Team Composition: Each team must consist of two eligible professionals working in advertising, media, PR, brand, or related marketing communications roles.
Student Participation: Students are not eligible for the Young Lions Competition.
Proof of Age & Employment: Participants must submit valid documentation confirming their date of birth and current employment status. Submission of false or misleading documents will result in disqualification.

Registration Fee: The fee to register for the national Young Lions Competition is EUR 30 per team.
Sponsorship Requirement: To qualify for international participation, winning teams must secure a sponsorship letter from their employer confirming financial and logistical support.
Estimated Sponsorship Cost: The expected cost of sending a team to Cannes for the global competition is approximately EUR 11,500 per team. This includes travel, accommodation, registration, and other related expenses.
Third-Party Sponsorship: Employers may appoint a third-party sponsor to fulfill this obligation.

International Passport: All participants must possess a valid international passport with sufficient validity to travel to France in June 2026.
Visa Application: Winning teams must submit their Schengen visa applications by the first week of February 2026. CHINI Africa may provide supporting documents but does not guarantee visa approval.

Standard Practice: Accommodation is typically arranged in 2/3-star hotels or studio apartments.
Shared Rooms: Teams of the same gender may be assigned twin rooms. Mixed-gender teams will be paired with other competitors of the same gender.

National Organizer: CHINI Africa facilitates the national Young Lions Competition for eligible WECA countries.
Limitations: CHINI Africa does not fund or sponsor teams, nor does it guarantee travel, visa, or accommodation arrangements. Its role is limited to organizing the national selection process and providing administrative support.

Fair Process: The competition is designed to be transparent and impartial, with winners selected by a jury of professionals.
Final Decision: By entering, participants agree to accept the jury’s verdict as final.
Original Work: All submissions must be original and created solely by the team. Plagiarism or unauthorized use of copyrighted material will result in disqualification.
Usage Rights: By submitting an entry, participants grant CHINI Africa and Cannes Lions the right to use their work for promotional purposes.

Registration Opens:
🗓️ 1 October 2025
National Competition Dates:
🗓️ 19 – 23 January 2026
Visa Application Deadline for Winning Teams:
🗓️ First week of February 2026
Global Finals:
🗓️ 22 - 26 June 2026 during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Changes: Programme structure, fees, and timelines are subject to change without prior notice.