Cannes Contenders 2026: Canada

Maple Leaf Foods – Look for the Leaf

A timely campaign that captured the feeling of an entire nation and turned it into a simple, ownable brand idea. By elevating other Canadian brands in the work, Maple Leaf elevated itself as a brand that stood for Canada. It’s a well-rounded campaign. 

From the insight to the art direction to the craft, and almost too perfect for a brand that has Maple Leaf in its name. I hope jurors can channel what many Canadians felt during the height of the tariff attacks toward Canada, and recognise the boldness and cleverness of a brand choosing to show up with pride and restraint.

Leo Toronto – TD Turns Ads Into Home Run Targets

Another strong OOH campaign from Canada, in what feels like a great year for the country in the category. It’s simple, smart and perfectly placed playing with data, sports and media placement in a way that feels completely natural. The campaign really understood the momentum around the team and brought motivation for the athletes to new heights. 

KFC – Hockey Smiles

When so many global brands struggle to make their work feel relevant to the Canadian market, KFC found a way in that felt funny, immediate and unmistakably its own. By “vandalising” its most important brand asset, Colonel Sanders himself, the campaign became instantly recognisable to Canadians and cut through the noise. It associated the brand with one of the most disputed spaces in Canadian advertising, hockey, while pushing the boundaries of its own brand book in a smart and memorable way.

Jeep – Silent Edition 

The off-road category is probably one of the most resistant to hybrid and electric cars, because it has always been built around power, performance and toughness. This campaign brings a fresh perspective through the shape of a product demo. Without relying on traditional vehicle footage, and with the help of iconic wildlife photographer Patricia Homonylo, Jeep created a wildlife photoshoot that was featured by National Geographic and Canadian Geographic. It shows that the vehicle can reach remote places, but also that its silent engine can get closer to animals in a way a traditional engine can’t. A “show me, don’t tell me” idea.

IKEA Canada – Sleep Talk Reviews

A simple and charming product demo that turns sleep itself into the review. By letting real sleep talkers “review” IKEA mattresses while asleep, the campaign finds a funny, human and very IKEA way to prove comfort using the product experience as the proof.