Apple’s Eddy Cue Is Cannes Lions 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year

Apple exec Eddy Cue has been named Entertainment Person of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, in recognition of his role in building Apple TV, Apple Music, and more into major global platforms.

Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos are previous recipients of the trophy, which festival organizers say “acknowledges the creativity that inspires others to produce truly compelling, meaningful, and entertaining content.”

As Apple’s SVP of services and health, Cue oversees everything from Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, Apple Pay, Apple News, Fitness+, and more. He also leads the tech giant’s productivity and creativity apps. 

The accolade speaks to Apple’s growing influence in the entertainment arena.

Under Cue’s leadership, Apple TV has emerged as a crown jewel for the company, delivering award-winning series including The Studio and Severance. In 2025, the Apple Original film F1: The Movie became the highest-grossing sports movie of all time, pulling in $631 million at the box office.

Cue’s win also follows a bumper year for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, in which Bad Bunny’s performance averaged 128.2 million viewers.

In a statement, Cannes Lions CEO Simon Cook said Cue had “consistently pushed the boundaries of entertainment and storytelling, building platforms and experiences that have redefined how audiences engage with culture.”

He added: “Under his leadership, Apple has not only produced world-class content but has also shaped the future of entertainment through innovation, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to quality.”

Cue will speak at the Palais during the festival on Monday, June 22, in a fireside chat with F1: The Movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Other honorees already announced ahead of this year’s festival include Susan Credle as the winner of Cannes Lions’ prestigious Lion of St. Mark award and AB InBev as Creative Marketer of the Year.