Beyond the Croisette: Reflections from Cannes Lions 2026

Cannes Lions 2026: Conversations, Connections and a Week to Remember

If there's one week that captures the energy of the advertising industry, it's Cannes Lions. For five days, the Croisette becomes a meeting place for creative agencies, brands, publishers, technology companies and industry leaders from around the world. Yes, there's the Riviera sunshine and packed beach clubs, but beyond the spectacle it's where relationships are strengthened, new ideas are explored and many of the conversations that shape the year ahead begin.

For the AUDIENCES team, this was our busiest Cannes yet.

Founder & CEO Rob McLaughlin was joined by Co-founder & CCO - Matt Wilkinson, MD EMEA - Hugh Stevens, VP of Marketing - Helen Mussard, and Head of Client Success & Partnerships - Molly Peake, for a packed schedule that started with breakfast meetings and rarely finished before midnight.

Across the week we met with customers, brands, publishers, agencies and technology partners from across Europe and beyond. Some conversations continued long-standing partnerships, whilst others marked the beginning of exciting new relationships. There was a genuine sense that the industry is moving into its next chapter, with organisations increasingly focused on activating first-party data more effectively, making better use of cloud investments and finding technology that gives them greater control and flexibility.

Between meetings, the team joined brilliant events hosted by VideoWeek, ExchangeWire, VIA Netherlands, DoubleVerify and many others. From insightful panel discussions to memorable evenings aboard the VIA Netherlands Clipper boat, every event brought together people who are helping shape the future of our industry.

We also spent time recording podcasts with ‘Signal & Noise’ and ‘The Business of Marketing’, filmed interviews with ‘Performance Marketing World’ and caught up with journalists and industry friends throughout the week. It was, in every sense, action-packed.

Bringing the Industry Together - AUDIENCES & IAB Europe 

The highlight of our week was undoubtedly hosting our exclusive industry lunch in partnership with IAB Europe. Held at a secluded beach club away from the crowds of the Croisette, we welcomed 35 senior leaders from across the European advertising ecosystem for an afternoon of open conversation and new connections.

Representing brands, publishers, agencies, technology companies and industry organisations, the room reflected exactly what makes this industry so special. Different perspectives, different expertise and a shared ambition to move marketing forward. There was no stage and no presentations, just an exceptional group of people discussing the topics shaping our industry today, from first-party data and retail media to AI, cloud technology, measurement and the future of marketing infrastructure. If there was one takeaway from the lunch, it was this: the industry is entering a new phase. As native technology accelerates signal delivery, organisations are increasingly looking for neutral infrastructure that works across the ecosystem, rather than technology that locks them into one approach. It made for a fascinating discussion and highlighted just how much innovation is happening across our industry right now.

And somehow, against all Cannes expectations, we didn't have a single no-show. Anyone who has organised an event during Cannes knows just how remarkable that is. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. The generosity of the conversations, the willingness to share experiences and the calibre of people around the table made it one of the standout moments of the week. We're also incredibly grateful to IAB Europe for partnering with us to bring together such an outstanding group of industry leaders.

The Conversation Has Changed

One theme surfaced time and time again throughout Cannes.The conversation has moved beyond simply collecting first-party data. Organisations are now focused on how they activate it faster, govern it better and make the most of the cloud environments they've invested in.

Those discussions reinforced what we've been seeing throughout the year. Native technology is accelerating signal delivery. Brands want greater ownership of their data. Publishers want more flexibility. Partners want infrastructure that works across the ecosystem rather than locking organisations into a single approach. These are exactly the conversations AUDIENCES was built for.

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Until Next Time

We're returning from Cannes with stronger partnerships, new opportunities and plenty of inspiration for the months ahead. To everyone who made time to meet with us, invited us to your events, joined us for a podcast or interview, attended our lunch or simply stopped for a chat along the Croisette, thank you.

Cannes continues to be one of the few places where the entire industry comes together, and after another incredible week it's easy to see why it remains such an important fixture in the calendar. Now, after a chance to cool down from the Riviera sunshine, it's time to turn those conversations into action. We'll see many of you again very soon at MAD//Fest! 

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