Dana Tahir & Bertille Toledano Named Cannes Lions Jury Presidents

• The Cannes Lions Festival will take place from 22-26 June 2026
• Dana Tahir, CEO of HAVAS Red Middle East, will chair the PR jury, Bertille Toledano, CEO of BETC

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced its Jury President line-up for 2026 that runs from June 22 to 26, 2026.

The festival will have a diverse group of leaders from around the world who will judge creativity at a global level.

Dana Tahir (CEO of HAVAS Red Middle East) has been selected to serve as the Jury President for the Public Relations category, while Bertille Toledano (CEO of BETC and Havas Creative Network President) will be serving as the Jury President for Creative Effectiveness.

This appointment is significant because it marks the first time in history that an Arab woman from the MENA region has been named as a Jury President at the Cannes Lions.

In her LinkedIn post regarding her selection, Dana elaborated on what this means not only for her career but also for the larger context of creativity being recognized as a global standard by the Cannes Lions, and driving significant cultural, business, and impact-related change around the world.

She also stated her desire to work with the Jury to highlight exceptional public relations work that positively impacts discussions taking place today; to drive real change through their efforts; and to improve companies' credibility.

Bertille, in her new position, has led the charge in launching a Creative Powerhouse in the Middle East, solidifying Havas’ dedication to best-in-class creativity and production.

She is working in tandem with Dany Naaman, CEO of Havas Middle East, to unlock the full creative and commercial potential of the region via Havas’ Converged.AI strategy.

Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, spoke about the 2026 Jury President lineup, saying, “The leaders we have chosen for the 2026 lineup are known for their creative leadership, their global vision, and their ability to spot work that will set a new standard. The 2026 lineup represents the full range of creativity, from brand building and transformation to cultural impact and commey rce. I have no doubt that this jury will set a new high bar for creativity in the coming year.”