Cannes Lions is the holy grail for marketers, where genius ideas collide with unparalleled creativity. If you’re heading to the 2025 festival like we are, you better come with a plan. Why? Because the sessions this year are set to flip the marketing script and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about creativity and strategy.
Consider this your cheat sheet. We’ve done the hard work for you and zeroed in on the 2025 Cannes Lions sessions that will leave marketers buzzing all year. Whether you’re attending in person or tuning in virtually, these are the events that will make you rethink your strategies, challenge your assumptions, and inspire your next campaign.
Apple Human After All with Tor Myhren
When Apple shares their insights, the world listens. But this session is about much more than sleek designs and jaw-dropping campaigns. Tor Myhren, Apple’s VP of Marketing Communications, is set to strip back the mystique and remind us all of something core to marketing genius despite the tech explosion: humanity sells.
Expect insights into how Apple continues to dominate consumer mindshare by defying trends and focusing relentlessly on authenticity, emotion, and storytelling. Prepare to witness how even the most advanced technology doesn’t matter unless you’re talking directly to the hearts of your audience. Myhren’s session promises not just to blow minds but to anchor marketers in the foundational truth of human-first branding.
What’s the takeaway?
How to inject warmth into innovation-heavy industries. Apple doesn’t just sell products; it sells feelings. What are you selling?
The Tech Marketer’s Playbook for Building a Beloved Social-First Brand with Duolingo and Emmanuel Orssaud
Duolingo doubles as a meme machine and language learning app, all wrapped in fluorescent green feathers. And this session is serving the blueprint for every marketer aiming to win the attention battle. Emmanuel Orssaud will unveil the how behind Duolingo’s flawless execution of social-first branding. From TikTok antics to relatable YouTube ads, Duolingo has nailed what it means to live rent-free in the minds of millions.
Why this matters to you
Because TikTok dances won’t save your brand. You’ll learn that success in the social-first world requires strategy, speed, and the guts to experiment.
Timeless Creativity Lessons on Building Lasting Brands with Procter & Gamble and Marc S. Pritchard
Timeless. Enduring. Indestructible. That’s what every brand dreams of being. Marc S. Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer at Procter & Gamble, knows a thing or two about building brands that last longer than trending hashtags. His session will explore how brands can create work that transcends market trends, delivering value for years instead of minutes.
What’s the gem here?
This one’s all about zooming out. It’s not enough to ride the next big trend. This session will show you how to future-proof your brand without losing touch with the present.
What 20 Years of YouTube Reveals About Creativity’s Future with Neal Mohan
YouTube just turned 20, and Neal Mohan is here to passionately uncover its evolution and highlight why it matters. From cat videos to billion-dollar advertising industries, this session is a peek behind the curtain of the platform that changed it all. Expect to explore what YouTube’s trajectory tells us about where creativity is headed and how to stay one step ahead of consumer expectations.
The edge you’ll get
Understanding the tension between quantity and quality in the digital age. It’s about making each moment count by being intentional in your creativity.
How Corn Dogs Cucumbers and Creators Can Change Everything with TikTok Sofia Hernandez Keith Lee and Logan Moffitt
TikTok is rewriting the rules of marketing in 15 seconds or less. This session takes you behind the chaos and into the strategy. From viral corn dogs to everyday cucumbers, TikTok’s Head of Global Business Marketing, Sofia Hernandez, alongside creators Keith Lee and Logan Moffitt, will show you why the smallest ideas can lead to the biggest cultural moments.
Why you need a seat at this session
Because chasing viral success isn’t a strategy. This session will show you how to tap into community-driven trends and creators to craft messages that hit hard and stick around.
Get Sh*t Done Live Where Humans and AI Collide with Rebecca Rowntree Omar Karim and Faris Yakob
AI is changing life for us all, but for marketers, it’s an accelerant, not a replacement. This session explores the tension between human creativity and technological innovation. Rebecca Rowntree, Omar Karim, and Faris Yakob will show you how to pair your creative instincts with AI tools to crank out work that doesn’t just get done but gets remembered.
Your big win
Stop fearing AI and learn how to make it your biggest ally. Automate the grunt work, but keep the spark of originality alive.
Meet the Social Revolt Team in Cannes
If you’ll be at Cannes Lions and want to dig into campaigns, brand strategy, or just bounce around wild ideas, schedule time to meet with the Social Revolt team. We live to challenge the status quo and create the kind of work people can’t stop sharing.
Reach out to lacey@socialrevoltagency.com to book a time.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just another year at Cannes Lions. It’s the year marketers decide whether to push boundaries or stay comfortable in the same sandbox. The sessions above are designed to challenge you, spark bold ideas, and leave you with actionable insights to conquer the next era of marketing.
The question isn’t whether you’ll attend these sessions. It’s whether you’re ready to act on what you’ll learn.
