FT Live at

CANNES LIONS

22–25 June 2026

Championing creativity through connections

In-Person and Digital

#FTCannesLions #NikkeiFTTeahouse

Join the Financial Times at the Nikkei FT Teahouse during Cannes Lions for a series of exclusive events.

Returning to Cannes in June 2026, the Financial Times and Nikkei will host a week-long programme exploring the ideas, innovations and cultural shifts shaping the future of business, media and creativity.

Bringing together global brand leaders, innovators and influential voices, the programme will examine the forces redefining the creative economy — from AI and influence to entertainment, media and evolving consumer expectations. All sessions will be chaired by senior FT journalists and editorial leaders, offering informed perspective, sharp analysis and meaningful discussion throughout the week.

Set against the backdrop of Cannes Lions, the 2026 Nikkei FT Teahouse offers a space away from the noise of the festival — designed for thoughtful conversation, connection and insight, grounded in the shared editorial values of Nikkei and the Financial Times.

Our events will be taking place at Nikkei FT Teahouse at 11 Rue des Belges, Cannes

view the teahouse

Upcoming Events at the Nikkei FT Teahouse

Monday 22 June, 17:00 - 19:00 CEST
Exclusive Briefing & Networking Reception

The new commercial metric that matters

Hosted in partnership with M+C Saatchi and Oxford Saïd Business School to explore the findings from the latest Return on Cultural Power study, a new empirical industry metric. It will also examine how brands can turn cultural relevance into a competitive advantage.

watch livestream

Tuesday 23 June, 11:00 - 13:00 CEST
Exclusive Brunch Briefing & Networking Reception

Tearing the Paper Ceiling

The work celebrated at Cannes Lions is built by strong teams. But what makes a strong team and how can you build one? Join the Financial Times and the Ad Council in Cannes to examine what it means to tear the “paper ceiling”, and how skills-first hiring can improve our workforce.

THIS EVENT IS FULL

Tuesday 23 June, 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Exclusive Afternoon Briefing

Redefining Luxury for a New Generation of Consumers

Join our expert panel including Rob Bloom (Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team) and Lia Dean (Capital One) as they explore how a new generation of consumers is reshaping luxury and what it means for premium brands in the decade ahead.

Tuesday 23 June, 16:00 - 19:00 CEST
Exclusive Briefing & Networking Reception

Financial Times & People Like Us at Cannes Lions

We will host an evening bringing together senior brand leaders, creatives and emerging talent. Through keynote conversations, creative showcases and curated networking, the event will explore how leadership decisions made today are shaping the future of storytelling, culture and growth.

THIS EVENT IS FULL

Wednesday 24 June, 14:00 - 18:00 CEST
Curated Sessions & Networking Reception

FT Sessions at Cannes Lions

We give you the insights and actionable takeaways you need – in one room, in one afternoon. Hosted by the Financial Times, we bring editorial rigour, global perspective and independent analysis to the conversations shaping the future of creativity. Hear from speakers including will.i.am, Alex Norström (Spotify), David Wadhwani (Adobe), Kameryn Stanhouse (IBM), Louise McEwen (McLaren Racing), Danielle Brown (Disney Advertising), Laurie Lam (e.l.f. Beauty), Alex Weller (Patagonia) and more. Register to watch selected sessions live.

Find Out More

Thursday 25 June, 16:00 - 18:00 CEST
Exclusive Drinks & Networking Finale

Driving the Future of Marketing

The Financial Times and The Marketing Academy invite you to an exclusive drinks reception at Cannes Lions, bringing together senior marketing leaders for an evening of conversation and networking. The event will feature a special discussion with Ellie Norman, CMO of Formula E, exploring innovation, leadership and the evolving role of marketing, followed by drinks, music and industry connections.

THIS EVENT IS FULL

FT Expert Corner: Why Creativity Belongs in the Boardroom with Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS

In this edition of FT Expert Corner, Financial Times Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Finola McDonnell speaks with Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, about why creativity is increasingly becoming a boardroom priority rather than simply a marketing function. As organisations face growing pressure to differentiate in crowded, AI-driven markets, marketing leaders are being challenged to demonstrate how creative investment contributes to revenue growth, customer engagement and long-term business value.

Why Attend?

Understand

Get the big picture. Go beyond your niche and explore the trends reshaping the global creative economy from AI to brand storytelling and beyond.

Connect

Build meaningful connections with the most influential voices in marketing, media, tech and culture right in the heart of Cannes.

Discover

Walk away with bold ideas, actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to drive growth, spark innovation and stay ahead of the competition.

FIND OUT MORE

Financial Times is delighted to be supporting Sixth Hive at Cannes Lions 2026.

Designed to cut through the noise of traditional networking, Sixth Hive curates meaningful business introductions for senior leaders attending Cannes Lions — helping ensure the conversations you have are the ones that matter most. Across five days, from 22–26 June 2026, Sixth Hive will host a series of curated business meetings inside the Nikkei FT Teahouse in Cannes.

The concept is simple: attendees share the types of people, partnerships or opportunities they are looking to connect with, and Sixth Hive facilitates tailored introductions designed to create more valuable conversations and business outcomes during the week.

Rather than spending Cannes searching for the right people to meet, delegates arrive with high-quality meetings already arranged.

If you are attending Cannes Lions 2026 and would like to request an introduction, please submit your details via the link. Deadline: Wednesday 17 June 2026

Nikkei FT Teahouse at Cannes Lions

Nikkei FT Teahouse11 Rue des Belges, Cannes, France

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