Now in its 71st year, Cannes Lions has become known as the definitive global benchmark in creative excellence, a must-attend event for professionals working in marketing, design, technology, media and entertainment.
Whether you’re attending for the first time or are a Cannes Lions veteran, here is what you need to know to make the most of the 2024 edition.
This year the five-day festival (June 17 to 21) promises to be more power-packed than ever, with program tracks focusing on The Creativity Toolbox, Creative Impact and Innovation Unwrapped.
The program will investigate subjects from health to experience, featuring more than 150 hours of content and nearly 500 speakers. Corporations either participating in and/or attending Cannes Lions include Apple, Meta, Omnicom, Samsung, Amazon, LinkedIn, Verizon, Netflix, Microsoft, Spotify, P&G, Google, e.l.f. Beauty, Mastercard and PepsiCo.
As always, there will be a wealth of celebrities, surprise guests, respected industry professionals and commentary from icons in the business.
Debuting to much acclaim last year, Stagwell’s Sport Beach activation returns, this time in a larger space at La Plage du Festival with such stars as Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird and Carmelo Anthony, covering all things sports, business and brand.
Additional speakers along the Croisette will include much heralded advertising exec David Droga, as well as celebrities such as Deepak Chopra and Queen Latifah. That’s without considering the changemakers, brand strategy consultants, CMO whisperers and design chiefs who will be jetting in from around the world.
The pinnacle of the event is, of course, the highly coveted Cannes Lions Awards, 30 of which are given out for outstanding creative work in a host of mediums. Look out for winners that break boundaries, shift the social needle and captivate audiences.
Much of the programming will be held on the beach as well as the omnipresent yachts, so be sure to pack a good sunscreen and UV sunglasses. Dress code is business casual, with an unspoken competition for the chicest sneakers. And if you decide to bring the family, Cannes Lions provides complimentary childcare at the Palais during each day.
