Cannes Lions
Complete Playbook

Before anything else, you need to be able to explain yourself in one breath. You are not "a social media manager." You are a specialist with a specific value proposition.

Practise this until it feels natural. You'll say it dozens of times. The goal is confident and conversational, not rehearsed.

Decision-makers at Cannes will Google you or check LinkedIn within 24 hours of meeting you. This is your silent pitch deck.

• Headline: Not just your job title. Try "[Your Role] | [Your Specialism] | [Your Country] → Global"
• Banner image: Update it to something that reflects your personal brand aesthetic — travel, lifestyle, creative
• About section: Three short paragraphs: who you are, what you've done (results, not tasks), what you're open to
• Featured section: Pin your two or three best client results, your TikTok/Instagram profile links, or a one-page PDF portfolio
• Turn on "Open to Work" (for recruiters only, not public) so agencies using LinkedIn can find you
• QR code ready: Screenshot your LinkedIn QR code and save it to your phone's home screen or lock screen folder

A digital one-pager you can send instantly after a conversation is worth more than a business card. Use Notion, Canva, or a simple PDF. Include:

• Your name, role, location ([Your Country] — this is a differentiator, not a limitation)
• 2–3 client wins with real numbers: "Grew X brand's Instagram from 4K to 18K followers in 6 months"
• Services you offer: account management, content strategy, community building, creator collaborations
• Links: LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, email
• A professional-but-warm photo

Don't go in blind. Spend one hour identifying 15–20 brands and agencies you most want to connect with. In my Cannes Lions 2026 experience, attendees included presences from Google, P&G, Patagonia, Meta, Estée Lauder, Spotify, Pinterest, WPP, Ogilvy, DEPT®, and hundreds more.

• Make a shortlist: who would be your dream client or employer?
• For each: note 1–2 recent campaigns they've run, their social media approach, any awards they're known for
• Find the social media leads, CMOs, or heads of digital on LinkedIn — follow them now
• Set up Google Alerts for your top 5 targets so you're up to date before you arrive

The official Lions Connect app lets you schedule meetings with other attendees, browse who's attending, and book sessions. This is highly recommended, especially if you're attending for the first time.

• Download it as soon as it's available (usually a few weeks before the festival)
• Fill your profile completely — photo, bio, what you're looking for
• Start requesting brief 15-minute meetings with social media leaders at target brands — aim for 3–5 pre-booked meetings before you arrive
• Message people you want to meet: "I'll be at Cannes this week — would love 15 mins to chat about [specific topic relevant to them]"

Many brand beach activations and networking events require pre-registration and fill up weeks in advance. Start watching:

• DEPT® Secret Garden — creator economy, AI, and social topics; check deptagency.com and look for the current year’s Cannes event page
• LBB & Friends Beach — one of the most welcoming, no door-policy spaces for creative professionals
• Cannes Lions Run Club (daily 07:00, Mon–Thu) — coffee and conversation after; one of the best ways to meet people without the noise
• Pinterest Manifestival — relevant to your lifestyle/travel content angle
• Check canneslions.com and follow Akommo's party list (akommo.com) — updated weekly in the run-up

You're a [Your Niche] creator — use Cannes as a content backdrop. This serves double duty: it positions you publicly as an industry professional AND fills your TikTok/Instagram feed with aspirational content.

• Pre-plan a "going to Cannes" series on [Your Platforms] starting 1–2 weeks before you leave
• Plan daily stories/content themes for each day: arrival, day 1 insights, people I met, etc.
• Use hashtags: #CannesLions #CreatorEconomy #SocialMedia — this gets you discovered by others attending
• Post from the venue, the beach, the Croisette — this creates social proof that you're in the room
• DM other creators attending: "I'll be at Cannes too — want to collab on some content?"

• ETIAS: [Your nationality] passport holders may need an ETIAS authorisation to enter France — check your visa requirements and apply well in advance at travel-europe.eu/en/etias
• Accommodation: The Croisette itself is expensive — Le Suquet (old town), Cannes Centre, or Mougins (10 min away) offer budget-friendlier options within walking distance
• Transport: Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is 30 min from Cannes by train (€6) or taxi (~€60)
• Roaming: Get a French eSIM before you leave [Your Country] — you'll need data constantly for LinkedIn, maps, and the Lions app
• Portable charger: High-capacity (20,000mAh). Non-negotiable. Your phone will die mid-afternoon every day.
• Euros cash: Some beach bars and smaller events are cash-only