AB InBev has been named the 2026 Creative Marketer of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, becoming the first company in the festival’s history to receive the honour three times.
The recognition celebrates marketers that consistently produce iconic, award-winning work over time, and AB InBev’s latest win reinforces how deeply creativity has become embedded into its business strategy. At last year’s festival alone, the global brewer secured 37 Lions across multiple categories and markets.
Over the past few years, the company has shifted its focus toward organic growth, positioning creativity not just as a marketing function, but as a core business driver. This approach has contributed to strong commercial momentum, with AB InBev reporting record revenues and growth across its global portfolio in Q1 2026.
Industry leaders at Cannes Lions highlighted how the company has integrated creativity at every level of its operations, from leadership to execution. By building systems around creative effectiveness and scaling innovation across hundreds of brands, AB InBev has demonstrated the direct relationship between creative excellence and business growth.
The company’s portfolio continues to dominate globally, with several billion-dollar brands and strong rankings across effectiveness and brand valuation studies. Brands like Corona have consistently remained among the world’s most valuable beer labels.
Commenting on the achievement, the company’s leadership credited its teams and agency partners worldwide for building campaigns that combine cultural relevance with measurable impact.
With this milestone, AB InBev further cements its position as one of the world’s most creatively influential marketers.
