Hyundai Motor Company won Grand Prix and Bronze Lion awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, marking the second consecutive year the automaker has earned multiple awards at the festival.
Hyundai Puerto Rico won the Grand Prix in the Audio & Radio category for the “Coquí Alarmed” campaign done in collaboration with BBDO Puerto Rico. The “Forests Without Names” campaign won the Bronze Lion in the Creative Data category.
Coquí Alarmed
The “Coquí Alarmed” campaign was sparked by a viral moment in 2025 when a tourist complained about the song of Puerto Rico’s native coquí frog, prompting the local population to unite in defense of the island’s emblematic sound and cultural symbol.
Hyundai Motor replaced the standard factory alarm sound of rental vehicles with the croaking of the coquí. Customers began demanding the modification for their personal vehicles as well.
The campaign also raised awareness about the coquí’s ecological significance. Of the 14 existing coquí species, three are already at risk of extinction.
“‘Coquí Alarmed’ stood apart because it made the Jury think about our own category in a new way,” said Oriel Davis-Lyons, Chief Creative Officer, Mother New York, and Audio & Radio Jury President.
“Though it was rooted in a hyper-local insight, its execution and impact were universally admired. It shows that even in a ‘Classic’ category like Audio & Radio, it’s still possible to push the definition to exciting new limits whilst delivering serious business impact.”
Forests Without Names
The “Forests Without Names” campaign, done in collaboration with BBDO New York, highlights the plight of sea forests, marine ecosystems that lack legal and institutional protection. By naming and placing these underwater habitats on the map, the campaign raises awareness of their ecological value.
After securing official designation and policy-level recognition for Korea’s sea forests, the company expanded the initiative globally, partnering with local NGOs and communities in Argentina and Australia to identify and name sea forests in each region.
The company developed the Global Sea Forest Map by consolidating data from international marine conservation NGOs and scientific organizations into a single platform. The map uses satellite-based distribution data, protected area designations, and marine environmental parameters including water temperature, depth and salinity to document newly named forests.
The dataset has been transferred to a global collaborative network dedicated to marine ecosystem research and conservation, according to the release.
In addition to its Bronze win, the campaign secured finalist status across five other Cannes Lions sectors, including Design and Sustainable Development Goals.
At the 2025 Cannes Lions, Hyundai Motor won the Grand Prix award for “Night Fishing” by INNOCEAN and Gold and Silver Lions for “Tree Correspondent.”
