The countdown is officially on for Cannes Lions 2026, the world’s leading festival for creativity in advertising, marketing, and communications. From June 22–26, 2026, Cannes once again becomes the global meeting point for creative leaders, brands, agencies, media companies, and innovators shaping the future of the industry.
While the festival is known for its inspiring talks, workshops, and the prestigious Cannes Lions Awards, the experience extends far beyond the Palais. Throughout the week, Cannes comes alive with beach gatherings, rooftop cocktails, networking dinners, brand activations, yacht events, and late-night parties that have become a key part of the Cannes experience.
To help you make the most of the week, we’ve created this 2026 Cannes Parties & Events Guide: a curated roundup of the most relevant side events happening across Cannes. We’ll continue updating the guide as new events are announced, so make sure to check back regularly. ✨
Hosting an event during Cannes Lions 2026? We’d love to feature it. Just get in touch with the details.
Hosted by Shakuri Studios in partnership with Trailblazers Sweatworking Club, the Cannes Lions Run Club offers an easy and inclusive 5K along the Croisette before the festival schedule fully kicks in. Designed around connection rather than competition, the morning run brings together Cannes Lions attendees for a relaxed start to the day with sea views, conversation, and a social atmosphere.
Open to runners, joggers, and walkers alike, the session finishes with coffee and pastries, creating an informal networking moment before heading back to the Palais for the day’s meetings and sessions.
Hosted by Kantar in collaboration with global branding agency JKR, this roundtable explores how brands can unlock growth by connecting marketing and customer experience more intentionally. The session focuses on turning everyday interactions into distinctive brand experiences that create long-term differentiation.
Through collaborative discussion, attendees will identify the moments that matter most, examine what enables or limits memorable experiences, and develop practical actions to help brands design for meaningful difference.
Hosted by Kantar and Saïd Business School, this session explores the relationship between creative quality and brand strength through one of the largest global analyses ever conducted on the topic. Drawing on more than a decade of Kantar LINK and BrandZ data, the discussion examines how great advertising builds long-term brand equity and which creative factors drive sustained growth.
Focused on evidence rather than theory, the session offers valuable insights for marketers looking to justify stronger investment in creativity and long-term brand building.
Hosted by VIA and Amsterdam Trade & Invest, this exclusive Cannes gathering takes place aboard the historic Stad Amsterdam tall ship in Cannes Harbour. The afternoon begins with a panel discussion on industry transformation and Amsterdam’s role as a hub for international agency operations, featuring leaders from Monks, 72andSunny and TBWA\NEBOKO.
Following the panel, guests are invited to stay for sunset drinks and live Amsterdam music on deck in one of the most distinctive networking settings of Cannes Lions week. Attendance is highly limited and advance registration is mandatory.
Hosted by LUMA Partners, LUMA Blanc is an exclusive soirée set against the backdrop of the Côte d’Azur, bringing together prominent digital executives from across the media, marketing, and technology industries. The evening is designed to foster high-level conversations and meaningful connections in a more intimate and elevated Cannes setting.
Known as one of the more sought-after gatherings during Cannes Lions week, the event focuses on the future of media and marketing, offering attendees the opportunity to exchange perspectives with influential leaders shaping the industry.
Hosted by RTL AdAlliance, Adform and TikTok, Nordic Sunset Drinks offers a relaxed opening to Cannes Lions week for the Nordic adtech and media community. Set on the RTL Beach along the Croisette, the gathering combines drinks, finger food, and informal networking in a low-pressure atmosphere designed for genuine conversation.
With no formal agenda beyond connecting industry peers ahead of a busy week, it’s a natural first stop for attendees focused on the media and adtech side of Cannes.
Hosted by TripleLift, this late-night gathering returns to the Mondrian Front Lawn for its third consecutive year during Cannes Lions week. Set against the backdrop of the Croisette, the evening combines Riviera atmosphere with informal networking, bringing together industry leaders for cocktails, light bites, and live music under the Cannes night sky.
Known for its relaxed but energetic setting, the party is designed as a place to reconnect with familiar faces, spark new conversations, and continue networking well into the night.
Hosted by Darkroom alongside Oren John, Triple Whale and Motion App, The Darkroom® CPG Garden is an invite-only gathering designed for the people shaping the future of consumer brands. Set in a private villa overlooking the Mediterranean, the afternoon brings together founders, CMOs, DTC operators, creators, and brand builders for focused networking in a more curated environment.
Alongside food, drinks, and poolside conversations, the program includes discussions on where consumer brand investment is heading in 2026 and how AI is reshaping the operating models of modern commerce businesses.
Hosted by Brands&Culture, The Brands&Culture Day returns to Cannes Lions for its third edition with an afternoon dedicated to one of the industry’s most debated topics: the relationship between brands and culture. Through a mix of panels and interactive culture lab sessions, the program explores how brands can engage with culture authentically, stand out in an AI-saturated landscape, and move beyond performative marketing.
Confirmed speakers include leaders from Patagonia, Coinbase and Essity, with discussions covering cultural relevance, AI-driven marketing strategies, and disruptive brand building.
Hosted by Transform Magazine and Tavern, this session explores how brands can build long-term relevance in an industry often driven by short-term design trends. Mike Perry, founder of Tavern, introduces the concept of “Modern Heritage” — a framework centred on identifying, redefining, and evolving the most valuable parts of a brand’s history rather than constantly reinventing it from scratch.
Using case studies including Sizzler, Burt’s Bees and Old Overholt, the talk examines how timeless brands balance reinvention with consistency to create stronger long-term equity.
Hosted by TripleLift, this relaxed happy hour brings together Cannes Lions attendees for an afternoon of informal networking overlooking the Croisette. Set on the 7th floor at Boulevard de la Croisette, the gathering combines drinks, savoury bites, ocean views, and live music in a laid-back Riviera atmosphere.
Designed as an easygoing midweek meetup, the event offers a chance to reconnect with industry peers and continue conversations away from the festival crowds.
Hosted by BIMA and sponsored by Webflow, this Golden Hour social brings the Cannes Lions community together for an informal evening of drinks and networking at Hotel Le Suquet Cannes. Part of the two-day BIMA House program, the event is designed to create a more relaxed environment for conversation and connection away from the intensity of the Croisette.
With no formal agenda, the evening focuses on bringing together industry professionals, creatives, and digital leaders for casual networking as the sun sets over Cannes.
Hosted by Kantar and Microsoft, the Blueprint for Brand Growth Awards celebrates the brands and campaigns delivering standout results through creativity, effectiveness, and meaningful differentiation. The evening opens with a conversation between Kantar Chief Client Officer Alvin Bowles and Mark D’Arcy, Global Creative Lead for Copilot at Microsoft AI, exploring one of the industry’s most closely watched brand-building transformations.
The awards recognise excellence across categories including Most Meaningfully Different Brand, Most Effective Campaign, and Excellence in Creator Content, with winners selected using Kantar performance data. The night continues with drinks, food, music, and networking at the Microsoft Gardens on the Croisette.
Hosted by Adform, Adform Match Night offers a more relaxed alternative to the typical Cannes rooftop networking event. Held at Ma Nolan’s Irish Pub, the evening combines drinks, snacks, and a live screening of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between England and Ghana, creating a casual atmosphere built around shared moments rather than structured networking.
A long-standing Cannes Lions favourite, Ma Nolan’s is known for its laid-back environment during festival week, making this an easygoing way to close out a busy Tuesday on the Croisette.
The Breakfast Club: Cannes Edit offers a slower-paced morning on the Croisette focused on meaningful industry conversation over breakfast. Bringing together publishers, retailers, and commerce media professionals, the session explores where attention and investment are moving as the ecosystem continues to evolve.
Expect practical insights, candid perspectives, and discussion around the opportunities and challenges shaping the relationship between publishers and commerce media leaders in 2026. Space is intentionally limited to keep the format more intimate and conversational.
Hosted by Brands&Culture, this edition of the Brands&Culture Villa explores the communities where cultural relevance is truly built — from sports fandoms and gaming ecosystems to creator networks and niche online communities. Through a mix of panels and discussions, the program examines how brands can engage authentically with highly engaged audiences and turn cultural moments into long-term impact.
Confirmed speakers include representatives from Sportradar, Edelman and PepsiCo, alongside Gigi Russo, Chief Transformation Officer at HUNTER. The day also explores how AI is being integrated into cultural marketing workflows, while highlighting where human judgment remains essential.
Hosted by ACT Responsible, IAA Global and LIONS, Open House for Good is one of the few Cannes Lions events designed to be fully accessible without a festival badge. The afternoon offers visitors the opportunity to explore the ACT Responsible exhibition inside the Palais, showcasing purpose-driven campaigns focused on solidarity, human rights, education, and environmental impact.
Attendees can discover the work, meet the people behind the campaigns, and vote for their favourites in a setting centred on creativity with social impact. For anyone interested in purpose-led marketing and accessible festival experiences, this is a standout Wednesday afternoon event.
Hosted by Transform Magazine, this roundtable session expands on the Modern Heritage framework introduced earlier in the week, shifting the conversation from presentation to open discussion. The session explores how brands can build long-term equity in a culture driven by constant change, examining what truly makes a brand timeless and how identity can remain coherent across evolving platforms, audiences, and trends.
Designed as an interactive conversation rather than a keynote, the roundtable offers a more collaborative format for marketers and brand leaders looking to think beyond short-term trend cycles.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Important Security Notice
Beware of scammers impersonating Tappx brand
We have identified fraudulent activities where malicious actors are imitating Tappx assets. These scams may compromise your security.
⚠️ Warning: The URL you came from has been flagged as potentially harmful.
To stay safe, only trust communications and services from the official Tappx domain: tappx.com
