The Top Events to Attend During Cannes Week

A comprehensive guide to the top networking events, mixers and must-attend moments happening across Cannes


When the industry descends on the south of France each June, Cannes transforms into a city-wide hug of creativity and conversation. Beyond the main stages and scheduled programming, the week comes alive with hundreds of additional events, from beachside breakfasts and panel sessions to brand activations, private dinners and late-night parties. 


After a hugely positive response to the recent launch of our
2026 Cannes Events Calendar, we’re back with a Cannes-focused roundup to help you make the most of your time during the week. 


With so much happening, knowing where to be (and when) can quickly become overwhelming, so we’ve curated our top picks of the best networking events to attend…

All times are shown as local (CEST).


Sunday


Event:
ADWEEK’s Kickoff Soiree

Host: ADWEEK

Time: 19:00-21:00

A staple opening night event that sets the tone for the week, bringing together a strong mix of brands, agencies and media for an easy first round of networking.


Monday


Event:
Tennis on the Riviera

Host: The Nucleus Network

Time: 07:00-10:00

An early start, but worth it. Expect a senior crowd and genuinely meaningful conversations on and off the court.


Event:
ADWEEK House, Viant Cafe - Group Chats and Programming 

Host: ADWEEK

Time: 09:00-17:00

A reliable daytime hub for drop-ins, informal discussions and curated sessions, ideal for filling gaps between meetings.


Event:
Adtech Kickoff Lunch

Host: Limelight Inc.

Time: 13:00-15:00

A more intimate setting to connect with peers across the adtech ecosystem and kickstart the week with quality conversations


Event: The List Cannes Kickoff - Ad Age

Host: Ad Age

Time: 17:00-18:00

A curated early evening gathering known for attracting a senior, editorially-led crowd. A great pick for making strong connections.


Event:
Cannes Brand Leaders Dinner

Host: Digiday

Time: 19:00

An invite-only dinner bringing together brand-side leaders for deeper conversations in a more relaxed, off-the-clock setting.


Tuesday


Event:
Cannes Marketing Leaders Brunch

Host: Digiday

Time: 10:30

A popular morning meet-up with a strong mix of brands, agencies and platforms. Expect a busy but valuable room.


Event:
The Marketing, Content & Commerce Leadership Lunch

Host: Martech Record 

Time: 13:00-14:30 

A focused, discussion-led lunch exploring the intersection of content, commerce and marketing leadership.


Event:
The Cannes Social - Networking and drinks

Host: ExchangeWire & FirstPartyCapital

Time: 16:00-19:00

A more relaxed networking event that’s great for meeting a broad mix of the industry without the formality.


Event:
Beet.TV 20th Anniversary Party

Host: Beet.TV

Time: 18:00-20:00

A milestone celebration set against a classic Cannes backdrop, expect a lively crowd and strong industry turnout.


Wednesday


Event:
Pinterest Manifestival

Host: Pinterest

Time: 09:00-17:30

A full-day brand experience blending creativity, inspiration and networking in a distinct setting.


Event:
FT Morning Insights - The Business of Influence

Host: Financial Times

Time: 11:00 - 13:00

A sharp, insight-led session exploring the evolving influence economy, with a senior, engaged audience.


Event:
Catamaran Conversations

Host: Samsung Ads x Nectar360

Time: 16:00 - 18:00

Networking on the water! One of the more unique Cannes experiences, combining great views and great conversation.


Event:
Ad Age Lawn Party

Host: Ad Age

Time: 17:30-19:30

One of the busiest social events of the week, bringing together a broad mix of industry players in a high-energy setting.


Event:
Cocktails and Conversations - ADWEEK House Creative 100 Reception

Host: ADWEEK

Time: 17:30-19:30

A celebratory gathering recognising top creative talent, attracting an influential crowd.


Event:
Campaign Final Party

Host: Campaign

Time: TBC

A classic late-week party and a chance to let loose; expect a packed room and a proper end-of-week atmosphere.


Thursday


Event:
WIN Lounge

Host: Women Inspiring Network (WIN) 

Time: TBC

A welcoming space focused on connection, conversation and community, with a programme designed to inspire.


Event:
The List Closing Breakfast

Host: Ad Age

Time: 09:00-10:30

A more relaxed, reflective session to wrap up the week and reconnect with key contacts before departures begin.


Event:
Exclusive Drinks & Networking Finale: Driving the Future of Marketing

Host: Financial Times

Time: 16:00-18:00 

One of the final opportunities to connect with senior leaders and close out conversations before the week winds down.


Friday


Event:
Les Monks Café

Host: Monks

Time: 08:00-15:00

A laid-back spot for informal meetings and last-minute catch-ups.


Event:
The Secret Garden 

Host: Dept

Time: 10:00

A calm, tucked-away setting offering a welcome break from the Croisette.


Event:
Microsoft Happy Hour 

Host: Microsoft Beach House

Time: 17:30-19:00

A low-pressure way to wrap up the week. Great for final drinks, farewells and those last valuable connections.


See you there?


Our team will be on the ground all week! So if you’re heading to Cannes, make sure to come and say hello. Whether you want to connect or just grab a drink, we’d love to see you there! 🙌



…and don’t forget to check out our full 2026 Cannes Events Calendar, we’ll be keeping it up to date in the run up to June.


More from our team & client partners

The Credibility Premium: Why AI has just made riding solo impossibly expensive
August 14, 2026
For the last twenty years or so, brands have been rightly obsessed with their search rankings. But in the time it takes for consumers to completely reinvent their online research habits – which it turns out wasn’t very long at all – it has become clear SEO was the easy part.
Creator marketing: The growth engine brands can no longer afford to ignore
August 13, 2026
There was a time when creator partnerships were considered a ‘nice-to-have’ in supporting a marketing campaign. They were great for achieving an extra few likes and comments across social platforms, but rarely were creators considered central to an ad campaign, never mind a long-term growth engine.
Rob Hall, CEO of Parallel: “Digital Twins and ‘Customer Suitability’ can power better decisions
August 12, 2026
While brand safety and brand suitability help advertisers avoid harmful environments and align campaigns with brand values, Customer Suitability asks whether a video placement is right for the customer viewing it. Parallel combines proprietary AI, large-scale data sets and digital twins – synthetic replicas of consumer
Andy Squire, Brave Ads: “AI replacing traditional Search? It’s not as simple as that”
August 10, 2026
NDA spoke recently with Andy Squire, RVP Sales EMEA at Brave Ads, about the rapid evolution of the Search marketplace and how marketers can reassess their strategy for discoverability…
Brandtech’s Jellyfish Launches AI Ads Optimisation in Share of Model™
By Ren Bowman August 6, 2026
Jellyfish, a global digital marketing leader within The Brandtech Group, today announced AI Ads Optimisation, a major expansion of the paid media optimisation capabilities within its proprietary Share of Model™ Platform. The update extends beyond the existing Google Ads integration for Performance Max to generate media
Tinder ‘Dump Traditional Dating’: Alternative fourplay | The Digital Voice™
By Ren Bowman August 6, 2026
Oh the joys of online dating…are there any? Not according to many of those we know but maybe, just maybe Tinder has the answer, with its Double Date feature.
How adtech CEOs should use LinkedIn in 2026: a visibility playbook for the AI world
July 25, 2026
Everyone knows that CEOs should be using LinkedIn. But so often it’s something they promise they’ll get around to after the board meeting, after the investor update, product launch, client pitch, or one of a hundred other urgent tasks competing for attention. It's time to stop treating LinkedIn as a nice to have.
Stop the scroll: how to win at SEO in the age of AI search | The Digital Voice™
May 14, 2026
How people seek and find information, optimising for the front page of search engines is no longer optimal. GEO has made technical SEO more important than ever.
Journalism and Gen-Z: What is the future of the profession, and will AI be friend or foe?
May 14, 2026
As of 2026, approximately 45% of workers have AI anxiety: they fear that in the near future AI will make their job obsolete. From the perspective of a Gen-Z student beginning to consider what her career might look like, Tabitha Bonner looks at the adapting role of journalists.
Show More