In June of 2026, I, Bronte Littlewood, took on the beast that is Cannes Lions…alone. My School of Thought Leeds win in 2025 was what sent me there. If only I’d had a blog like this to read before going. Let’s get straight into it. As a first-timer, here are some of my biggest takeaways from Cannes Lions and what I wish I knew before going.
How to find out who to see and what’s on
1. The Cannes App
While it’s definitely worth downloading the Cannes app, you won’t find everything on there. Most of the events I found out about from speaking to people.
2. Not everything is on the calendar
The ‘events’ section of the app is vast, and it takes a while to scroll through, but it’s where most of the gems are. In particular, it’s useful for exclusive celebrity appearances.
3. Plan a rough agenda but remain flexible
Some things get announced an hour before, which can really scupper your plans if you’re too rigid – be flexible and always ask people where they’re going next.
The networking formula
There are – quite literally – thousands of people that attend this festival. Networking can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re going on your own without a team; divide and conquer isn’t really an option. By the time you get sat down for the talks, there’s no time to chat, and when they finish, most are running off to the next thing.
So, where to start? One of my biggest takeaways from Cannes Lions was that the best networking opportunities often happen away from the scheduled sessions.
The place I found the best chance to talk to people was actually in queues for events. You’re both stuck in a (typically) slow-moving line for a mutual interest, so already there are two areas of common ground. Sometimes we do just need a minute to ourselves, but if you’re up for a chat it really does help pass the time.
Another thing: arrive early (seriously, I queued for an hour and a half once (for the closing party) and stand with open body language in the queues. A lot can be revealed just from someone’s lanyard – their name, place of work, how many days they’re here for, if they’ve been to any activations – so that’s an easy conversation starter if there’s nothing flying off the dome.
Getting noticed is different from being remembered
Unsurprisingly, you speak to a lot of people at Cannes. And if you’re anything like me, you don’t always remember names. But certain individuals did stand out. Below is a list of different things you can do to be remembered.
1. Wear something cool!
One of the things I loved the most about Cannes is it’s basically a fashion show. Many people have spent good money on stylists and want you to notice their outfit. There were lots of colours, patterns, etc., but I specifically remember speaking to a man who was wearing no shoes.
2. Business cards
In a digital world, sometimes it’s as easy as going analogue.
Get creative with a physical footprint.
3. Lockscreen QR code
The signal can be unpredictable. Many clever cookies thought ahead and put their LinkedIn QR code as their lock screen. This was convenient, and squashes the awkward app search party, “let me just…ugh…signals bad sorry”.
When to call it quits
On my third day in Cannes, I was speaking to the Marketing Director of Heineken (in a queue!); she had just done a talk, and we were discussing her insights. This was her 7th year at Cannes, and I asked for her advice for a first-timer.
Without hesitation, she said: “Make sure you rest”.
Funnily enough, she wasn’t the first or last person to say this to me.
It can be easy to think, “this is a once in a lifetime experience!”, “It’s only a week, I can rest when I’m back”, but seriously, especially in the heat, it’s easy to get burnt out. Realistically, you can’t be in a million places at once – you’re going to miss out on things. Talks overlap, and there can be quite a walk between activities.
Luckily, I figured out the lulls in the days and week, so you don’t have to.
- Wednesday and Thursday – key party evenings (Thursday more so)
- Friday = key rest days. Most people are hungover, tired, have already gone home and/or are saving themselves up for the closing party at the end. Plus most things have closed by then.
If you do want a quiet minute to yourself or a quick lie down, there’s a quiet zone in the basement of the main building. The aircon is delightful down there and it’s a very peaceful reset.
Now, for the main question I get asked…
Is it really worth the ticket price?
Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking to get out of it. If you’re an influencer/creator, I’d say you don’t need a ticket, as there are plenty of activations on the beach you don’t need a ticket for, and influencers have their own special privileges (more on that here).
If you’re in the industry, ABSOLUTELY! Words cannot describe how inspired I felt when I was there. If there’s a particular brief you’re stuck on, bring it with you. I guarantee the exceptional work on display will get your creative juices flowing.
Remember – not to discredit my word – but I was a first-timer. I’m sure when I go again (manifesting), my insights will change shape.
What I can say wholeheartedly is I can recommend Cannes to everyone. Even if you’re not in marketing/ advertising/the creative space, there is plenty for everyone, and the networking really is second to none. Looking back, these are just a few of my takeaways from Cannes Lions, and I’m sure they’ll evolve the next time I attend. Ignore the pompous claims and go and experience it for yourself!