FiveTwoNine and Billion Dollar Boy have relaunched The Creator Fund in partnership with Patreon, selecting 20 creators to attend Cannes Lions 2026 with structured access to industry programming, brand introductions, and networking opportunities. 

Applications close March 22, with winners announced April 14.

Each selected creator receives a Cannes Lions Creator Pass. Beyond event access, the initiative connects recipients with decision-makers, organizes curated programming, and provides on-the-ground guidance during the festival. Patreon joins as a sponsor for the first time in 2026, expanding the fund’s scope from its inaugural year.

Applicants must demonstrate at least 20,000 followers on their primary platform, or 5,000 followers on Patreon, along with consistent creative output, engagement and growth, original content, clear entrepreneurial ambition, and no prior attendance at Cannes Lions.

An Independent Jury

An independent jury of 15 industry leaders will select recipients. The panel includes: 

• Lina Renzina, Head of Top Creator Management at Patreon 
• Madolyn Grove, Head of Creators UK at TikTok 
• Steven Bertoni, Assistant Managing Editor at Forbes 
• Sydne Mullings, General Manager at Microsoft’s Americas Central Marketing Organization
• Two 2025 Creator Fund winners, Joel Marlinarson and Ian Fujimoto, among others

2025 Results

In 2025, the fund awarded 20 Creator Passes to a cohort with a combined 14.5 million followers. Several winners secured brand partnerships, including opportunities with Dove. Others landed speaking engagements alongside senior industry leaders. 

Marlinarson described his experience as “a surreal, fast-paced experience,” adding that he felt creators were “belonging, instead of feeling like outsiders.” 

Winner Simi Adeshina said, “I’m more motivated than ever to scale up my production, so a huge thanks for the opportunity.”

Executive Perspectives

Becky Owen, Global Head of FiveTwoNine and Global CMO of Billion Dollar Boy, cited structural and financial barriers as the core problem the fund addresses. “Too often, the people shaping modern creativity are missing from the rooms where the industry’s biggest decisions are made. Not because they lack talent, but because the barriers to entry are financial and structural,” she said.

Renzina framed Patreon’s involvement in terms of creator sustainability: “Creators building direct-to-fan communities are laying the foundation for independent businesses, but many need better access to the partners, resources, and opportunities that make long-term sustainability possible.”

Billion Dollar Boy will also host an event at Cannes Lions on June 24, sponsored by Patreon, focused on the future of entertainment and entrepreneurship in the Creator Economy. Additional details have not yet been released.

Interested creators can apply here.