What is Cannes Lions?

Created in 1954, the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity has been bringing members of the creative communications industry together for over 60 years. A truly global event, the first edition of the festival took place in Venice where the Lion of Piazza San Marcos statue was the inspiration for the prestigious Lions trophy. Held alternately in Venice and Cannes for 30 years, Cannes became the permanent home of the festival in 1984 and Lions has been lighting up the Croisette each June ever since.

Dedicated to celebrating the value of creativity in branded communication, the Cannes Lions Festival brings together attendees from all sectors of the industry for a series of talks, debates and live panels with world-class directors, entertainers, writers, athletes and speakers. In addition to the conference panels, Cannes Lions is also a series of award ceremonies honouring key industry players for their creative work each year.

In 2018, Cannes Lions launched 9 core tracks: Reach, Communication, Craft, Experience, Innovation, Impact, Good, Health and Entertainment. The Tracks provide a structure to the festival and make it easier for delegates to find inspiring content and best navigate the Awards, panels and discussions during the five-day event. Cannes Lions also includes an interactive digital platform allowing attendees to access the festival’s impressive archive of talks and campaigns throughout the year.

Who attends Cannes Lions?

From start-ups to established creative agencies, Cannes Lions brings together 15,000 attendees from over 100 countries worldwide each year for 5 days in the sunny South of France. A global event that covers every aspect of the creative communications and marketing industry, Cannes Lions attendees include:

• Distribution Companies
• Digital Media Companies
• Creative Marketing Agencies
• Communications Companies
• Advertising Agencies
• Entertainment Companies
• Consultancies
• Television Production Companies
• Publicists
• Tech Companies
• Print Media
• Travel Companies
• Web Design Agencies
• Music Production Companies
• Social Influencers
• Health & Wellness Practitioners

Discover the conference programme for Cannes Lions week:

A cross-discipline event, the Cannes Lions encompasses every aspect of the communications industry from print and publishing to entertainment via design and digital media. The jam-packed 5-day conference programme offers attendees an exciting programme of panel discussions, workshops, networking events and training sessions plus a series of award ceremonies to announce the winners of the 28 specialist Lions awards.

An unparalleled networking opportunity for the communications industry, Cannes Lions week is also a non-stop whirl of business and social events which take place away from the main stage. With everything from informal panel discussions in the beachfront cabanas along the Croisette to late-night drinks in the rooftop networking lounge at the Palais des Festivals, there’s always a reason to get together during Cannes Lions week.

What else goes on during Cannes Lions?

One of the most important dates in the international event calendar, Cannes Lions is all about building relationships while networking and what better way to network than over a drink or two. The 5-day festival sees an endless round of private parties and social events all over the city with many delegates getting home as the sun comes up over the Mediterranean.

Start your day with breakfast at the Cannes Lions Beach club, grab coffee at Volupté on Rue Hoche or head to the private beaches along the Croisette for an exciting panel discussion. Check out pop-up lounges and product launches in the city centre or network with other execs at one of the pool parties held in glamorous villas set in the hills around Cannes.

As evening falls, spend your downtime enjoying drinks on the Carlton terrace, entertaining clients on a superyacht as you cruise around the Bay of Cannes or checking out the late-night action at the legendary Gutter Bar. An unforgettable opportunity to build brand awareness, expand both your professional and social network at Cannes Lions.

What to look for when choosing a venue for your side event during Cannes Lions?

Whether you’re looking for a venue in the city centre or a little further out of town, when it comes to finding the perfect space for your Cannes Lions side event, we’ve got you covered. To help you choose the right space for both you and your brand, we’ve put together a few recommendations to ensure your event goes off without a hitch:

Location:

During Cannes Lions week, choosing a location is the one decision that will have the most impact on your event. While choosing a venue close to the Palais des Festivals will ensure guests can easily attend your event, there is also much to be said for choosing a venue located away from the crowds on the Croisette. Whether you want instant access to the events taking place in the city centre or you prefer to chill out in a villa set in the hills around Cannes, we’re here to help you find your ideal Cannes Lions space.

Price starting from : 6,000€ per day | 100 guests

Price starting from : 100.00€ per person| 250 guests

Price starting from : 75,00€ per person | 40 guests

Budget:

When it comes to choosing your space for Cannes Lions, you’ll definitely want to take your event budget into account. Being flexible with your dates and times can be a great way to negotiate rental costs with your venue so to bring down costs, you could think about holding your event during the daytime rather than the evening or choosing a more atypical venue such as a private apartment or office space to ensure you stick to your budget. Of course, we also recommend booking as far in advance as possible to make sure you get the best possible rates for your Cannes Lions event.

Capacity:

Venue capacity is another decision to take into consideration when finding a space for Cannes Lions. Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, you’ll need to check both the layout and the room capacity of your venue before confirming. Bear in mind that seated events require more space to set up than stand-up affairs, while business presentations and meetings may also require extra space for speakers and equipment so it’s always best to make sure the venue can accommodate all your requirements beforehand.

Transport:

Getting around Cannes during Cannes Lions week can be tricky due to the crowds so if you’re looking at hiring a venue outside of the city centre, it’s definitely worth putting on a car or shuttle bus service for your guests. If you’re staying a little closer to the Croisette, you could also think about renting a personalised tuk-tuk bike, electric scooter or a Mini Moke to promote your brand as you drive around town attending meetings.

Parking:

Although many delegates don’t bother hiring a car when they come to Cannes, those staying out of town will need transport to get to and from the festival throughout the week. If you’re planning on holding your event in one of the spaces outside the city centre it’s worth inquiring about private parking or even providing a valet parking service for guests with their own car service.

Create an App:

To make sure your event runs smoothly, your guests will need to have all the important details in advance. To get the information to them quickly and easily, we recommend creating a mobile events app which they can download to their phone to access GPS maps, an interactive agenda, QR code scans for check-in and more. To really get your Cannes Lions event noticed, you could also live-stream your event via the app and add an interactive platform for your attendees to connect with each other and engage with your brand once the event is over.

Outside Space:

Thanks to the French Riviera’s fantastic climate, Cannes Lions week is always a great time to get outdoors and soak up those blue skies and endless sunshine. To make sure your guests don’t miss out, why not think about hiring a venue with a private balcony or garden for outdoor meetings, after-work cocktails and more. Alternatively, we can also help you charter a yacht for Lions week so you can take your event to the next level and treat your guests to the ultimate VIP venue in Cannes.

Tech:

Cannes Lions is all about staying connected so when you plan your event strategy, technology will definitely be at the top of the requirements list. To make sure your guests can Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat your event for their followers, you’ll need to check that your space has fast WIFI access. Plus you’ll want to make sure that the venue has enough power outlets and connectors for any audiovisual or lighting equipment you plan on using, so it’s always best to check before booking.

Services and amenities:

In addition to helping you find the perfect venue for your Cannes Lions side event, we can also help out with the planning and organisation for the big day. Thanks to our extensive network of local service providers across the French Riviera, we can provide recommendations for:

• Sound & lighting providers
• Catering companies
• Furniture rental companies
• Printing & branding companies
• Transport services
• Hostesses & staffing agencies
• Florists
• Entertainment and more

When it comes to putting together an unforgettable event in Cannes, with your creative ideas and our local knowledge, you can’t go wrong. Whether you’re looking to find a catering company that will create locally-sourced sustainable menus for your dinner or you want to provide unique entertainment experiences for your guests, such as digital caricaturists, iPad magicians or interactive waiting staff, we’re here to help.

Our Top Tips for organising an Unforgettable Side Event during CANNES LIONS:

Setting the Scene:

So you’ve found the perfect rental space for your Cannes Lions event but the art collection in your venue doesn’t quite align with your company values? No need to panic, get your venue looking more on-brand quickly and easily by having some branded canvases printed to the same dimensions. Then simply switch them out with your new artwork by popping the existing pieces into storage in a spare room for the duration of the festival and the job’s done.

Head for the Hills:

The biggest creative marketing festival in the world, Cannes Lions is pretty full-on with non-stop networking and social events throughout the week. To offer your clients a little peace and quiet away from the conference crowds, we recommend choosing a rental space away from the Croisette. With dozens of chic and unusual event spaces on offer in the hills around Cannes, captivate your customers with both engaging content and breathtaking sea views as you give them a chance to network in a more relaxed environment far from the madness of the Palais des Festivals.

Make a Scene:

If you’ve chosen to host your event in one of our rental spaces located away from the Croisette, you may need to organise transportation to and from the venue for your clients. Why not make the most of the opportunity and opt for a fleet of promotional minivans branded with your corporate logo or your latest advertising campaign. The perfect opportunity to get your brand noticed by congress delegates and locals alike, corporate branding can also help increase social media awareness and will ensure you stand out from the crowd throughout the festival.

Get Away:

After a long day of seminars, presentations and networking at Cannes Lions, it can feel good to get away for a few hours. To help your clients relax away from the hustle and bustle of the Croisette, why not treat them to an unforgettable excursion while they’re in town. We can help you organise anything from a sunset catamaran cruise around the idyllic Lerins islands to a helicopter transfer down the coast for lunch in Monaco or St Tropez to give your guests a taste of life on the French Riviera.

Facts and figures

● Official website: Cannes Lions ● Attendees: 15 000 ● Location: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France ● Date: June ● Ticket price from See Website (Professionals Only)