India, 1st July, 2026 — At 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Prerna Suri, an awarding jury member at this year’s Cannes Lions 2026, has shared her reflection and key creative takeaways as Awarding Jury on the prestigious Entertainment Lions Music panel. Prerna has been appointed to the prestigious Awarding Jury for the Entertainment Lions for Music at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity .
Suri stood out as the *only Indian woman juror* globally invited to the 9-member global panel for entertainment in music. Her presence on the jury brought an essential perspective from the Global South.
The final awards presentation followed a rigorous judging process. Thoughtful, high-stakes deliberations took place over a course of many weeks online, culminating in intense, face-to-face evaluation rounds live in Cannes. The jury reviewed a remarkably diverse slate of global entries spanning Latin America, India, South Asia, the United States, and Europe.
Reflecting on the specific standards the jury upheld at their ‘Inside the Jury’ session at the Palais, Suri emphasized a dedication to celebrating work that pushes boundaries:
“We weren’t just looking for clever marketing or catchy hooks. True creative excellence in music shouldn’t simply reflect existing culture—it has to reinvent it. The most rewarding pieces of work are those that hold a mirror up to society while boldly shifting the creative paradigm forward.”
Grand Prix-winner this year is music video was awarded to Rosalía’s “Berghain” (featuring Björk and Yves Tumor) directed by CANADA. This project was celebrated by the jury as a masterpiece that flawlessly integrates classical and modern elements, fantasy, and reality, seamlessly shifting how artists intersect with storytelling and cultural legacy.
She shared detailed, behind-the-scenes insights from her “inside the jury” experience, exploring the evolving dynamics of how brands, communities, and global artists build authentic ecosystems together. A complete overview of the track’s discussions and the official winner announcements can be found on the Cannes Lions News Platform.
Before transitioning to her executive leadership career at Sony Music where she is currently Vice President of communications for Asia and the Middle East , tech giants Meta, and Cisco, Suri spent more than a decade as a respected international foreign correspondent for major news networks, including Al Jazeera English and the BBC. An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College and the London School of Economics, this participation at Cannes Lions 2026 underscores the rising prominence of South Asian female leaders in shaping international media and creative benchmarks.
