Hyundai Motor has secured two major honours at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking home a Grand Prix and a Bronze Lion for campaigns that combined creativity with cultural storytelling and environmental impact.

The automaker’s highest recognition came in the Audio & Radio category, where its “Coqui Alarmed” campaign won the coveted Grand Prix. Developed for Hyundai Motor Puerto Rico, the campaign transformed the familiar call of the island’s iconic coquí frog into the door-lock alert sound of Hyundai rental vehicles.

The idea addressed a growing cultural tension in Puerto Rico, where some tourists viewed the frog’s distinctive nighttime calls as noise, while locals regarded them as an important symbol of national identity. By integrating the sound into the driving experience, Hyundai encouraged visitors to engage with a defining element of Puerto Rican culture, turning a simple vehicle feature into an immersive cultural experience.

The campaign was praised by the Cannes Lions jury for using sound to bridge cultural understanding, helping visitors appreciate the island’s natural heritage while reinforcing local pride.

Hyundai also earned a Bronze Lion in the Creative Data category for “Forest Without Name,” an initiative focused on raising awareness of underwater forests. The campaign sought to give visibility to marine forests by naming previously overlooked underwater ecosystems and incorporating them into digital mapping services.

ALSO WATCH: MARKETING EDGE ONTV

As part of the initiative, Hyundai created a global marine forest map containing satellite-based data on seaweed distribution, marine ecosystems and protected conservation areas, drawing attention to the critical role these underwater habitats play in biodiversity and climate resilience.

Beyond its two wins, Forest Without Name was also shortlisted across five additional categories, including Design and Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the campaign’s broad creative and environmental impact.

Now in its 73rd edition, Cannes Lions remains the world’s most prestigious celebration of creative excellence, attracting around 25,000 entries annually from across the globe.

Commenting on the recognition, Hyundai Motor’s Vice President and Head of Brand Marketing, Ji Seong-won, said the company would continue to develop campaigns that deepen customer engagement while creating positive social impact beyond the brand.