Loeries Regional Agency Group of the Year and African Cristal Network of the Year for the third consecutive year, plus Cannes Lions Regional Network of the Year for Sub-Saharan Africa: proof that the Groupe’s creative strength is built to last
Publicis Groupe Africa is closing out 2026 with a rare double hat-trick. The Groupe has been named Regional Agency Group of the Year at the Loeries and Network of the Year at the African Cristal Awards for the third year in a row, holding both titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Earlier this year, it was also named Cannes Lions Regional Network of the Year for Sub-Saharan Africa, carrying its standing from the continent onto the global stage.
Taken together, the three titles are evidence of a network that has made creative excellence its standard, delivering consistently on Africa’s two leading regional awards platforms and at the world’s most prestigious festival of creativity.
Consistency is the real measure
Awards reward great ideas. Winning the same title three years running rewards something that’s harder to build … a culture that produces great ideas year after year, across markets, clients and disciplines.
The Groupe’s 2026 Loeries performance shows that culture at work. Awards came in across five agencies: LePub Johannesburg, Machine, The Partnership Agency, Publicis West Africa, Leo Singapore and Publicis Middle East. LePub Johannesburg led the way with the Live Events Grand Prix for Heineken Beverages’ Bar de Change, Heineken Beverages was named Brand of the Year, and LePub’s Sebastian Dupper was named Young Creative of the Year. Machine won a Campaign Gold and a Campaign Craft Gold for Spotify, The Partnership Agency took two Golds for Too Good’s Paid Sick Leave, and Leo Singapore won Gold for Unilever’s Vaseline & the real Nigerian Prince.
The wins cut across live events, out-of-home, print, digital, social impact, B2B and craft, which is exactly the kind of depth that sustains a winning record rather than producing a one-off.
Talent, ambition and creative impact
Koo Govender, CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa, says: “Winning once is a moment. Winning three years in a row at the Loeries and the African Cristals and then being recognised at Cannes, tells you who we are. It is the work of extraordinary people across our agencies who push each other, share what they know and refuse to settle for good enough. Our ambition has always been bigger than a trophy cabinet. We want African creativity to set the pace globally and we want our clients’ brands to be the ones that prove it. This is the foundation of a legacy and we’re only getting started.”
Building the next era
The Groupe’s record is also a statement about the future. Sebastian Dupper’s Young Creative of the Year title points to a talent pipeline that is producing award-winning creatives early in their careers and to a network that invests in the people who will define its next three years.
With its leadership position on the continent secured three times over and its Cannes Lions recognition placing Sub-Saharan Africa firmly in the global conversation, Publicis Groupe Africa now sets out to raise the bar again: more collaboration across its agencies, deeper partnerships with brave clients and creative work from Africa that competes with, and beats, the best in the world.
Pete Little, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe Africa, adds: “Three years at the top gives us the confidence to strive for the next chapter in our journey, through backing our young talent like Sebastian earlier, collaborating even more closly across our agencies, markets and of course our client partners to develop bigger, bolder and braver work.
