National CineMedia (NASDAQ: NCMI), the US Representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, has announced the Top 25 finalist teams for the 2026 US Young Lions Competition. This year's brief challenged competitors to reimagine fundraising efforts for nonprofit partner Save The Music, engaging a new generation of music lovers. Finalists span five categories: Digital, Film, Media, PR, and Print.

National CineMedia is now integrated into VideoAmp's cross-platform media planning technology, marking the first time cinema has been included in a unified planning solution of this type. The integration enables advertisers to plan campaigns across streaming, CTV, digital video, audio, and cinema environments within a single framework, bringing NCM's moviegoer data from 17,000 screens across 1,300 theaters in 184 markets into cross-platform planning.

National CineMedia announced Save The Music Foundation as the official non-profit partner for the 2026 US Young Lions Competition. The organization is featured in the 2026 competition brief, inviting registered advertising, marketing, and communications professionals to develop creative ideas that support the foundation’s mission. Winning teams will travel as TEAM USA to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

National CineMedia has launched the 2026 US Young Lions Competition, marking its 11th year as the US Representative for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Open to advertising, marketing, and communications professionals born after June 20, 1995, competitors will vie across five categories to form TEAM USA and compete in Cannes. NCM also introduces PMCI as its first title sponsor of the competition.