Congratulations to Rethink. The agency’s hot streak just got a little hotter. The leading independent creative agency was named 2026 Independent Agency of the Year and Independent Network of the Year at the 73rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, reclaiming two of the festival’s top honors for independent agencies after first earning the distinction in 2024.
The agency finished Cannes with 14 Lions, including one Grand Prix, three Gold, two Silver, and eight Bronze, along with 37 shortlists. Its biggest win came in Print & Publishing, where Kraft Heinz’s “Look Familiar?” earned a Grand Prix.
Awarded work from Rethink included campaigns for Heinz, IKEA, and Penguins International, including Heinz Look Familiar, Heinz Coincidence, Heinz Dipper, IKEA U UP?, IKEA Sleep Talk Reviews, and Penguins International Protest March of the Penguins.
“There are some of the best humans in the world in this business, and we’re incredibly fortunate that so many chose to build Rethink with us,” said Aaron Starkman, Global Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Rethink. “We’ve always believed that independence gives us the freedom to create an environment where people can do the best work of their careers. We’re incredibly grateful to our clients for believing in breakthrough ideas, and to our people for bringing them to life. To see that work recognized at Cannes in this way is an honor we’ll never take for granted.”
The Cannes recognition caps another monster year for Rethink. The agency was recently named Ad Age’s Agency of the Year, Adweek’s Independent Agency of the Year, ANDY Awards Indie Agency of the Year, The One Show’s Independent Agency and Independent Network of the Year, Clio Awards Independent Agency of the Year, Strategy’s Agency of the Year, and The Advertising & Design Club of Canada’s Agency of the Year.
Rethink was also ranked the No. 2 Independent Agency in Campaign Global’s Agency of the Year rankings and named one of Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
Basically, not a bad week at the office.
All Cannes Lions shortlists and winners can be found here.
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