Dana Tahir Named First Arab Woman to Lead Cannes Lions PR Jury
Dana Tahir becomes the first Arab woman to lead Cannes Lions PR Jury, signaling growing MENA representation in global creative awards and setting new benchmarks for industry leadership.
Dana Tahir, CEO of HAVAS Red Middle East, has been named PR Jury President for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, making her the first Arab woman from the MENA region to hold a Cannes Lions Jury President position in the festival's history.
The announcement was made in February 2026. The 73rd edition of Cannes Lions is scheduled for June 22 to 26, 2026, in Cannes, France.
Historic Appointment Backed by 18 Years of Industry Experience
Tahir brings more than 18 years of industry experience to the role. She has previously served on juries at Cannes Lions, the Clio Awards, and the One Show. She also holds a Strategy Board Member position at MEPRA, the Middle East Public Relations Association.
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Under her leadership, HAVAS Red Middle East has grown to over 60 specialists. The agency serves global brands through a model that combines earned media, social, and experiential communications.
"This is a meaningful moment, both personally and for the wider industry," Tahir said. "I look forward to working with an exceptional jury to recognize PR work that pushes boundaries, shapes reputation, and sets new standards for meaningful creative impact."
As PR Jury President, Tahir will evaluate campaigns that launched or ran between February 2025 and April 2026. Judging criteria focus on work that drives measurable business results through earned media, strategic communication, and reputation management.
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MENA Jury Representation Grows 18.2% Year Over Year
The 2026 Cannes Lions jury includes 26 jurors from the MENA region, up from 22 in 2025. That represents an 18.2% year-over-year increase in regional representation at the festival's judging level.
The full 2026 jury lineup spans 24 award categories, including PR, Media, Creative Effectiveness, Film, Innovation, and Sustainable Development Goals.
Two additional Jury Presidents were announced alongside Tahir. Bertille Toledano, CEO of BETC and Havas Creative Middle East, will lead the Creative Effectiveness jury. Sindhuja Rai, Chief Client Officer of WPP Media for the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region, will lead the Media jury. All three announced Jury Presidents are women.
Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said: "The impact of the Cannes Lions Jury can't be underestimated. Their time and expertise in recognizing groundbreaking work sets the global creative benchmark for the year ahead."
LIONS Leadership Frames Diversity as a Quality Mechanism
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards at LIONS, described the 2026 lineup as reflecting how "creativity is evolving — it's becoming more interconnected, more diverse, and more influential across every part of business."
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Brannelly added that the lineup features more markets than ever represented, with a growing number of leaders from independent agencies and brands. She framed this as essential to ensuring work is "judged through a truly global and contemporary lens."
Dany Naaman, CEO of HAVAS Middle East, called Tahir's selection "a landmark moment for the PR industry in the Middle East," citing the strength of leadership emerging from the region and its growing role in shaping global industry standards.
James Wright, Global CEO of HAVAS Red, said Tahir's appointment reflects "the growing importance of leaders who can navigate culture, creativity, and impact with equal fluency," describing her perspective as "both grounded and globally relevant."
Jury lineups for the Creative Brand, Dan Wieden Titanium, and Luxury categories have not yet been announced, meaning total MENA representation figures for 2026 may increase further.
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