At Cannes Lions 2025, one big change was clear: creators were no longer just invited to make brands look cool. They were treated as important partners in advertising. The festival showed this change in a very direct way. In 2025, it renamed the old Social & Influencer Lions to the Social & Creator Lions, and it added a new Creator & Influencer Marketing section for creator-led brand work. Cannes Lions also brought back LIONS Creators, a special pass and learning program for the creator economy, for its second year. The 2025 festival took place in Cannes, France, from June 16 to June 20. (canneslions.com)
The atmosphere in Cannes changed too. YouTube said the festival welcomed a record number of creators in 2025 and gave them a bigger role in its program. The company said brands are now moving past the idea of creators as simple product promoters. Instead, more brands see them as long-term partners who shape culture and build trust with audiences. YouTube also described creators as business leaders in their own right, not only entertainers. This is a major shift: the people who once stood outside the advertising world are now helping lead it. (blog.youtube)
Amazon shared a similar message during its Cannes events. In one session, Amazon said creator partnerships are changing how advertising works because they mix authenticity with measurable business results. Twitch creator Kai Cenat said he only works with brands that feel natural to him and his audience. Amazon creative leader Jo Shoesmith explained that true co-creation means giving creators a real voice, not just placing a famous person inside an ad. Amazon also shared research saying 72% of consumers identify more with their interests and passions than with their age group, which helps explain why creators can connect so strongly with niche communities. (advertising.amazon.com)
Award-winning work shows this trend is not just talk. Cannes Lions highlighted creator campaigns such as “Vaseline Verified,” “Four Seasons Baby,” and “Name This Oreo.” Together, these changes suggest a new kind of advertising is spreading from Cannes: ads made with creators, not only for them. In today’s media world, creators are becoming both the message and the makers. (canneslions.com)










