Rebecca Weinstein and Jonathan Arias Win the 2026 U.S. Young Lions Digital Competition
FleishmanHillard’s Rebecca Weinstein and Jonathan Arias have won the Digital category of the 2026 U.S. Young Lions competition, taking home top honors for their concept “Tiny Tiny Desk Concerts.”
Their work focuses on the concept of a partnership with NPR’s iconic “Tiny Desk Concerts” series to let student musicians perform and record at their desks. Every single recorded and sold will fund music education through Save The Music Foundation, supporting the nonprofit’s work across more than 285 school districts nationwide.
Weinstein and Arias will represent TEAM USA at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, competing against the world’s top young creatives from June 22-26. FleishmanHillard served as the Digital category sponsor for this year’s competition, which also showcased strong talent from across the Omnicom Public Relations network. Weber Shandwick’s June Hernandez and Valiant Freeman won the PR category with a concept rooted in the power of silence, a partnership with the New York Philharmonic that highlights the real consequences of music education cuts through social and experiential activations.
“The 2026 TEAM USA winners reflect exactly why this competition matters: it gives the next generation of creative talent the opportunity to showcase their sharp, strategic thinking while advancing an important cause,” said Mike Rosen, Chief Revenue Officer at NCM. “Each winning team delivered fresh ideas that will help Save The Music reach new audiences and expand its impact. We’re excited to see them represent the U.S. on the global stage in Cannes.”
All five winning teams across Digital, Film, PR, Print, and Media categories will compete on the global stage in Cannes.
