Cannes Lions, the annual festival of creativity, opens this year with a focus on fields undergoing fundamental change. It’s no wonder, then, that the 2026 event is jam-packed with omens of the future and sessions with leaders who represent the transformation that will upend media and entertainment.
The International Festival of Creativity, which will be held from June 22 to 26, has a packed schedule examining the impact of AI on business, the rise of creators and the creator economy, the expansion of vertical drama as a format, and the boom in talent-driven consumer brands. In the 12 months since last year’s Cannes Lions gathering, all of these trends have accelerated faster than most expected.
The variety show spreads coverage across the Croisette with activities and coverage of a dynamic week on the Cannes seaside. Cannes Lions is one of the few places where big corporate brands still make a big splash. Spotify’s concert menu at the famous large-scale Spotify Beach installation includes Raye, Mike D, and Mumford & Sons. Ludacris will be attending the annual invite-only UTA party at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes.
Colin Jost and Seth Meyers will be holding court Wednesday night at the NBCUniversal space for a late night IRL, with Alan Cumming joining as DJ and special appearances promised from Bravo star Lindsay Hubbard (“Summerhouse”) and designer Rachel Zoe.
Other notable figures appearing this week include Oprah Winfrey, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Questlove and Malcolm Gladwell, Stella McCartney, Mel Robbins, and numerous CMOs and related fields from Fortune 500 companies.
Here are the top 10 events and trends covered this week on Variety.com.
Apple’s Eddy Cue talks with Jerry Bruckheimer
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Apple’s Eddy Cue takes the stage to accept the Cannes Lions Entertainment of the Year award. As Apple prepares for its first CEO change in 15 years, with Tim Cook stepping down and Apple’s other lifeblood John Tarnas taking over, all eyes will be on Cue, the longtime Apple leader who has guided the company into content and the App Store. Cue will sit down at the Palais on the festival’s opening day to chat with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, but the focus is likely to be on filmmaking and creativity rather than what the CEO handover scheduled for September 1st means for the tech giant.
Oprah Winfrey wins Cannes Lionheart Award
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As daytime television struggles to evolve in the age of YouTube, Oprah Winfrey’s 25-year run at the top in syndication with “The Oprah Winfrey Show” looks even more impressive in hindsight. Winfrey was a forerunner of today’s media entrepreneurs who entered media with OWN and a wide range of other Winfrey brands. Winfrey will receive the Lionheart Award on June 23 along with Cannes Lions president Phil Thomas.
Different Carmelo Anthony Happy Hours from Google Industry Innovators
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It’s a perfect time for Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh to sit down with NBA star Carmelo Anthony at the invitation-only Variety Google Industry Innovators Happy Hour on Tuesday. Anthony spent seven seasons with the New York Knicks from 2010 to 2017. I’m sure he’s still celebrating his underdog team’s success this year, taking them to the Finals for the first time in more than 50 years.
Anthony also embodies the trend of sports stars becoming ubiquitous after their playing days, thanks to the megaphones of reality television, social media, licensing and merchandising.
Storytelling with Questlove and Malcolm Gladwell
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Questlove, a DJ, documentarian, and “Tonight Show” bandleader, and Malcolm Gladwell, an author and podcaster, are self-proclaimed old friends who greatly enjoy discussing art and culture together. The two participated in iHeartMedia’s live podcast recording at last year’s Cannes Lions. This year, he will take to the stage at the Palais Rotonde on Tuesday to speak about how stories are gaining traction across culture and media these days.
Conversations about AI
For many attendees at Cannes Lions, the question most likely on their mind is how AI will shape the future of marketing. Along with the common stories about how robots cannot replace human intuition and creativity, we expect to hear a lot of talk about how AI can greatly enhance creative campaigns and help make them more effective. Sessions include “Winning the AI Discovery Era: Marketing to Minds and Machines” (June 24, 11:30 a.m., Carlton Hotel) featuring OpenAI Chief Revenue Officer Dennis Dresser, Google CMO Lorraine Twohill, and JPMorganChase CMO Carla Hassan. Companies setting up camp along the Croisette will also have a lot to say about AI, including Canva Creative Cabana, where Variety will host a series of panels and interviews.
Mel Robbins’ way
Image credit: Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media
The popular author, podcaster, and self-help advocate is a great example of how smart artists and writers are building hugely profitable lifestyle brands, primarily outside of mainstream Hollywood and media channels. Mel Robbins knows her strengths and knows how to capitalize on cultural trends. Her intuition tells her to focus on the value of turning simple ideas into lasting content during Tuesday’s conversation at Cannes Lions.
Ray shining on the Croisette
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Spotify Beach will host the first of two evening concerts on Tuesday with an eclectic lineup of appearances by Mike D (of Beastie Boys fame), Central C and Ray. The British singer-songwriter and producer has forged her own path in music, strongly advocating for artists’ rights at a time when the value of music and intellectual property has changed dramatically. Ray’s trip this year takes him to the sandy beaches of the Cote d’Azur.
Wednesday’s Spotify Beach Bash will feature Lykke Li, Mumford & Sons, and John Summit. The event is by invitation only, but the outdoor stage means the sidewalks will be filled with festival goers and locals admiring the spectacle.
Creator Economy A-List
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Cannes Lions has created more space to support the work of creator economy leaders during the festival. The festival will feature a number of sessions dedicated to the explosive growth in relationships between creators, AI, vertical drama, and brand partnership agreements, which are a far cry from the series deals and celebrity endorsement deals of the early days.
Dhar Mann (pictured) is one of the boldfaced creators who will be attending the gathering and participating in creator-focused activities. Other heavy hitters expected to attend Cannes Lions this year include Max Klimenko, Grace Wells, Alexis Onman, Hannah Stocking, Jake Schroeder, Dani Vale, Ching Amiga and Jennifer Aliwigwe, aka Financial Jennifer.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas tells a story that transcends borders
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Priyanka Chopra Jonas opens up about what it means to be a global superstar in a conversation at Cannes Lions on Wednesday.
As Variety readers learned in Chopra Jonas’ February 2026 cover story, interviews with Chopra Jonas are never boring. At Cannes Lions, Chopra Jonas will give insight into how she has built a career with roots in the West and East, and how she has recently seen her ability to leverage her rabid fan base and bridge the two through films and television shows streamed globally.
Stella McCartney tackles circular logic
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After decades as a top apparel brand, this fashion entrepreneur holds a unique position in all discussions of design and creativity. Stella McCartney will join eBay CEO Jamie Iannone and WWD London Bureau Chief Samantha Conti to discuss the surging global demand for reuse and recycling, a “circular commerce” trend that is redefining creative industries, including fashion.
(Photo: Stella McCartney (right) with director Greta Gerwig at the Met Ball in May)
