Certain categories have seen a significant increase, including Creative Effectiveness, which has doubled; Film is up eight per cent; Branded Content & Entertainment has risen by 18 per cent; and Film Craft by six per cent.
Philip Thomas, CEO of the Lions Festival, said: "Creative Effectiveness has doubled, adding yet more evidence for creativity as a business driver, while categories like Film, Film Craft and Branded Content & Entertainment show how important these tools are for telling stories."
Two areas that have seen a decline in submissions this year are the Press and Outdoor categories.
The festival's new category, Glass Lion: The Lion for Change, which addresses issues of gender inequality or prejudice, has received 166 entries in its launch year. All proceeds will go to a charity chosen from a shortlist of ten by Cannes Lions delegates during the festival.
Lions Health, the global creative festival for healthcare communications, has received 1,862 entries in its second year, a 30 per cent increase. Festival director Louise Benson attributes this to "a growing creative confidence in an industry that has to work within restrictive frameworks."
Lions Innovation, which covers data, technology and creativity, has received 226 entries in the Innovation category and 619 entries in Creative Data. Japan, the UK, US and Germany are the stand-out countries in terms of numbers.
Thomas added that the number of entries show an "industry that believes in the power of creativity as a driving force for business and for brands".
He said: "The Lions are a proxy for great creativity, and it is exciting to see marketers globally pushing themselves and their agency partners to produce truly outstanding work, and having the confidence to bring it to Cannes Lions to compete on the world stage."
The event takes place from 21 to 27 June in the French town.
