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Cannes Lions 2025 isn’t just another week on the industry calendar—it’s the World Cup of marketing. The Super Bowl of social. The Met Gala of media. And this year? It’s bigger, bolder, and more creator-fueled than ever.
But with over 400 panels, activations, think tanks, cabana chats, brunches, beach clubs, and yes, yacht-based podcasts, it’s easy to walk away sunburned, sleep-deprived, and still somehow feel like you missed the moments that mattered most.
That’s where this guide comes in.
This is not a full agenda. It’s not a laundry list of calendar invites. It’s your sharp, socially-optimized hit list—the curated map to Cannes that helps you walk away with content gold, cultural credibility, and conversations that close deals. If you’re a CMO, brand leader, or social strategist who wants to be in the rooms where relevance, revenue, and relationships are shaped—this is your blog.
Why Cannes Still Matters
You may have heard the skeptics. Cannes is too bloated. Too flashy. Too performative. But here’s the thing: it’s also where the biggest shifts in marketing are happening in real time. This is the only place in the world where a beauty creator can share a stage with a Fortune 500 CMO, walk off with a six-figure brand deal, and drop a TikTok that outperforms your last three campaigns combined. And with last year’s launch of LIONS Creators, it’s now crystal clear: creator-led storytelling isn’t part of the strategy—it is the strategy.
In 2025, brands aren’t just showing up with polished decks. They’re showing up with POVs. With partnerships. With purpose. And the smartest marketers aren’t trying to attend everything—they’re getting laser-focused on the high-impact moments that actually shape what’s next.
The Power List: Cannes Lions 2025’s Most Strategic Events
Bookmark this section, send it to your team, and build your week around it.
Adweek House
Location: Croisette Beach
Dates: June 17–20
Why go: Adweek House offers a dynamic environment where marketers can engage in intimate conversations and exclusive content sessions. The programming includes discussions on blending creativity with data, exploring the dualities of modern marketing, and networking with brand and marketing leaders from around the world. It's an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the future of advertising and connect with industry peers.
Brands & Culture
Location: Multiple locations
Dates: June 17–21
Why go: This event series focuses on building meaningful brands that shape and define culture to drive business growth. Attendees can expect to hear from marketing leaders who are at the forefront of cultural storytelling, providing valuable insights into creating culturally relevant campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences.
WSJ Journal House
Location: Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Dates: June 16–19
Why go: Journal House serves as a hub for thought leaders and executives to discuss the convergence of storytelling, data, and purpose. The programming is designed to explore how brands can forge deeper, more meaningful consumer relationships in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. It's an ideal setting for marketers seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of consumer engagement.
Kantar Kick-Off Dinner
Location: Invitation Only
Date: June 16
Why go: Kantar's annual "No Agenda" dinner offers a relaxed environment to ease into the Cannes Lions experience. It's an opportunity to connect with peers and discuss innovation, creativity, and forward-thinking in a setting that encourages open dialogue and networking.
The Marketing Society Spotlight
Location: By invitation
Dates: Special sessions TBA
Why go: The Marketing Society's sessions are known for fostering big-thinking discussions led by top CMOs and strategists. These sessions provide a platform for marketers to delve into strategic insights and share experiences that can shape future marketing endeavors.
Campaign House
Location: Central Cannes
Dates: June 16–20
Why go: Campaign House is the epicenter for agency-side conversations and creative insights. With a week-long program that includes editorial sessions, partner events, and parties, it's a vibrant space for marketers to engage with the latest trends and ideas shaping the advertising industry.
Pinterest Beach
Location: Pinterest Croisette activation
Dates: Daily
Why go: Pinterest's activation, known as the 'Manifestival,' brings key engagement trends to life through interactive experiences like a tattoo parlour, custom merchandise station, and hair styling. It's a visually engaging space that offers marketers a chance to explore how Pinterest is influencing consumer behavior and brand engagement.
TikTok at Cannes
Location: The iconic TikTok Villa
Dates: Daily
Why go: TikTok's presence at Cannes Lions is a hub for exploring the latest in short-form video content and creator collaborations. Marketers can expect to engage with sessions that delve into creative storytelling, platform trends, and strategies for leveraging TikTok to enhance brand visibility and engagement.
Ipsos Lounge
Location: Cannes Lions Promenade
Dates: June 16–20
Why go: Ipsos offers insights into consumer behavior and media effectiveness, providing marketers with data-driven perspectives to inform campaign strategies. Their sessions are designed to help brands navigate the complexities of modern media landscapes and consumer expectations.
Stagwell Sport Beach
Location: Beachfront
Dates: June 16–19
Why go: Sport Beach is where the worlds of sports and marketing converge. Attendees can engage with athletes, sports marketers, and immersive brand experiences that highlight the cultural impact of sports. It's an energetic environment perfect for exploring how sports can drive brand storytelling and consumer engagement.
Reddit at Cannes
Location: Reddit House
Dates: June 20–22
Why go: Reddit's activation, "Reddit Recommends," offers a unique space to explore internet culture and community marketing insights. Marketers can gain an understanding of how online communities influence consumer behavior and how to engage authentically with these audiences.
The Female Quotient Equality Lounge
Location: Hôtel Martinez – Suite 731
Dates: June 16–19
Why go: The Equality Lounge is a space dedicated to advancing representation and equity in the workplace. With sessions covering topics like leadership, community building, and marketing in an AI world, it's a platform for meaningful conversations that drive change in media, marketing, and beyond.
Spotify Beach
📍 Location: Plage du Goeland
📅 Dates: June 17–21
Why go: Live music meets sonic branding. Think Cardi B, branded playlists, and audio identity sessions that prove sound is strategy, not just a vibe.
Who it’s for: Experience designers, audio advertisers, brand marketers.
Bonus Moments Worth Catching
- CMOs in the Cabana (Canva): Mastercard, Mattel, NBCU, and more casually unpack culture-led commerce over cocktails.
- Serena Williams x Reckitt (Innovation Unwrapped): Leadership, innovation, and icon energy.
- Hollywood Meets Madison Ave (Jon M. Chu, Apple, Duolingo): Storytelling meets stardom.
- Streaming Wars Brunch (Google TV): The future of binge culture, debated over brunch.
- Influential x Publicis Creator Economy Takeover: Over 50 CMOs go head-to-head with top creators—plus the launch of a $5M Changemakers fund.
Final Word
Cannes isn’t about showing up. It’s about showing up with purpose. Whether you’re after insight, influence, or inspiration, the moments above are the ones shaping the future of marketing—on every platform, and every screen.
Just remember: you don’t need to be everywhere. But you do need to be in the right rooms.
See you on the Croisette. Sunglasses on. Notes app open.
Let me know if you'd like a downloadable PDF version of the Power List, a LinkedIn carousel teaser, or a daily social wrap version to keep the buzz going across channels. We can build a full campaign around this.
