Simon Langley’s Cannes Diary #1: Inside Audio & Radio’s eclectic jury room
Simon Langley, Group Chief Creative Officer, Bastion Australia, is representing Australia on the Cannes Audio & Radio Lions jury. As judging gets underway in the South of France, Langley shares his insights from day one inside the jury room, exclusive to CB.
I’ve been fortunate enough to attend Cannes Lions over the years as both a delegate and a judge, but this is the first time I’ve arrived before the festival officially begins. Our Audio & Radio jury started judging on Thursday, ahead of the first awards presentations next week, and there’s something slightly surreal about seeing Cannes before the madness arrives.
The Croisette is still finding its feet. Beach clubs are being assembled, sponsor venues are under construction, and crews are working around the clock to transform the waterfront into advertising’s annual playground. The scale of the builds is staggering, particularly from the major tech players who now occupy some of the biggest footprints on the strip.
After welcome drinks with fellow jurors at The Carlton the night before, it was into the Palais for day one of judging. We also lucked out with our jury room. Previous judging experiences have involved windowless rooms buried deep inside the Palais. This year we have natural light, a balcony and uninterrupted views across the Mediterranean. Not a bad setting for debating creative excellence.
Day one focused on refining the shortlist in Audio & Radio. While I wouldn’t describe 2026 as a vintage year for the category, there are certainly some standout pieces emerging. The shortlist process is where the real discussions begin. Work that looks straightforward on screen often reveals new layers once jurors start sharing perspectives, experiences and cultural context.
The entries are genuinely global. Some ideas require local nuance to fully appreciate their impact, while others prove their strength by transcending geography altogether. It’s also encouraging to see a number of smaller markets producing work that can comfortably compete with the traditional powerhouse countries.
Equally interesting is the makeup of the jury itself. Alongside creative leaders and agency founders sit musicians, composers, sound engineers and audio specialists. The result is a richer conversation, with ideas being challenged not just on concept, but on craft, execution and the role sound plays in bringing them to life.
One day down, with plenty more debate still to come.
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