Image provided by Yum! Brands.

KFC's global creative momentum was on full display at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

The brand earned eight Lions across three markets this year, with KFC Canada taking home one Gold and three Silver Lions for its "Kyle F*cking Connor" campaign, KFC Thailand snagging two Bronze Lions and one Shortlist for "The Kaprao Criminals" and KFC MENA earning a Bronze Lion for "Om Bdr - 12th Ingredient." The wins showcased how KFC's globally recognized brand can inspire ideas rooted in local culture while resonating on one of the world's biggest creative stages.

Created with Toronto-based agency Courage, KFC Canada's campaign turned Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor's fan-given nickname, often abbreviated as "KFC," into a natural extension of the brand's sponsorship of the team. Rather than simply placing its logo alongside the action, KFC became part of the conversation through branded buckets, fan experiences and social content, earning a Gold Lion in Brand Experience & Activation and three Silver Lions across additional categories.

Meanwhile, KFC Thailand's "The Kaprao Criminals" campaign brought the brand's signature humor and cultural fluency to Cannes, earning two Bronze Lions and one Shortlist for an idea rooted in a distinctly local truth: Thailand's deep love for authentic kaprao. Created with Wolf BKK, the spot playfully spotlighted the "wrong" versions of the beloved dish, turning a familiar food debate into a memorable brand moment that only KFC Thailand could own. The recognition underscored KFC's ability to transform local cultural insight into globally celebrated creativity, further building on Thailand's growing track record of award-winning work for the brand.

Another win for KFC came from Saudi Arabia. The market's Bronze Lion-winning campaign embraced a consumer trend already taking shape across the nation. After fans began posting videos of themselves adding local cook Om Bdr's Srar Hail seasoning to KFC chicken, the brand partnered with her to make it KFC's "unofficial 12th herb and spice." The limited-time collaboration sold out in less than three weeks and became KFC Saudi Arabia's most popular promotion.

This year's recognition builds on KFC's recent success at Cannes. In 2025, KFC Thailand earned a Gold Lion in Film for "Let There Be Cake," marking Yum! Brands' first-ever Gold Lion in the Film category. In recent years, campaigns from the United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, Canada and Saudi Arabia have all demonstrated KFC's ability to adapt iconic brand assets to local culture in meaningful ways.

KFC's influence at Cannes extended beyond the awards stage. Christophe Poirier, KFC global chief concept officer, spoke across various panels, including a session with leaders from Kantar and JKR, the creative agency behind KFC's recent visual identity evolution. During the panel at the Canva Creative Cabana, Poirier and fellow panelists unpacked the strategy behind KFC's brand evolution while KFC tenders and sauces were served to attendees.

Suhayl Limbada, chief marketing officer of KFC India, joined the festival's official "CMOs in the Spotlight" session alongside executives from Mastercard, The Coca-Cola Company and Westpac Banking Corporation to discuss how CMOs are using creativity to drive business growth. Meanwhile, leaders from KFC Spain presented the Festival Talk "Building Brand Lore: Rethinking Fame for a Fragmented World," sharing how the brand builds cultural relevance through a steady stream of locally meaningful ideas.

Taco Bell also helped shape some of the festival's biggest conversations about creativity, technology and the future of consumer brands. At Sport Beach, Taco Bell Global Chief Brand Officer Taylor Montgomery participated in a panel on building a winning brand alongside Megan Rapinoe, CMO of NY Liberty and a Netflix advertising executive. He also participated in Variety's C-Suite Conversations, sharing Taco Bell's "Liberate Taco Tuesday" campaign as an example of culture-driven marketing powered by strong cultural insights.

Dane Mathews, Taco Bell's global chief Digital & Technology officer, joined a Shelly Palmer fireside conversation with Uber Advertising CMO Kristi Argyilan to discuss how Taco Bell is using AI to improve restaurant operations, enhance the team member experience and create a more seamless customer journey. He later joined Zoom CMO Kimberly Storin for a Deloitte-hosted panel examining AI's role in building stronger brands and delivering meaningful business outcomes.

Additional Taco Bell leaders participated in discussions hosted by Publicis Media, Spark Foundry and commerce media partners, reinforcing the brand's reputation for blending creativity, culture and innovation.

From award-winning campaigns to executive thought leadership, Yum! Brands demonstrated that creativity extends far beyond advertising. Whether earning Lions, sharing insights from the festival stage or exploring how AI can strengthen brand experiences, KFC and Taco Bell continue to show how bold ideas can deepen consumer connections and drive business growth. Cannes 2026 offered a glimpse of what's next.