What if the next six months could put you three years ahead? At Cannes Lions 2026, discover how agentic AI, omnichannel personalization and smarter content lifecycles can propel your brand’s growth—delivering scalable innovation with measurable business impact.
the estimated market size for Generative AI by 2032, up from $14.26 billion in 2023¹
of brands have made personalization a key strategy since 2022²
of consumers say they see the influencers or creators they follow as trusted sources of information³
Your creatives need easier workflows that speed time to value on every campaign and customer experience.
At this year’s Cannes Lions, we’ll explore how you can accelerate the impact of your creative and technology investments. On every channel. With every customer.
FEATURED SESSIONS
The C-Suite Thunderdome: CMO, CIO, and CFO Walk into a Meeting
When: Tuesday, June 23 | 2:00–3:30 p.m. local time
Where: Salesforce Beach
Speakers:
Deploying AI successfully isn't a tech problem; it's an organizational cage match. This rapid-fire session stages a candid, full-lifecycle meeting between the CMO, CIO, CFO and CHRO to hash out an AI idea from start to finish. We'll reveal the necessary, high-stakes negotiations and trade-offs required to balance the need for velocity (the CMO's dream) and a culture of experimentation ("smart failures") against the absolute requirement for security, governance, and human-centric talent transformation (everyone else's mandate).
The session will open with a fireside chat featuring Zahra Bahrololoumi and Diane Young of The Drum, followed by a rapid-fire panel discussion exploring how CMOs, CIOs, CFOs and CHROs navigate deploying AI across the organization—balancing the need for velocity, smart failures, and governance.
From Retail Media to Results: Proving What Works
When: Thursday, June 25 | 9:15 a.m. local time
Where: Journal House
Speakers:
Retail media is expanding beyond the point of sale. In this conversation we'll examine how first-party data, creative formats, and in-store touchpoints can better measure impact across the full customer journey—connecting advertising to real business outcomes, improving performance and responding to rising expectations for transparency, efficiency, and clear accountability across sales channels.
Reserved for executives at the VP level and above, this exclusive loft provides a relaxed respite from the noise and chaos of the Croisette, along with intimate conversations with senior marketing leaders who are leveraging emerging technology to accelerate value on every campaign and investment.
61 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
At the Deloitte Digital Executive Loft inside Journal House, we’re hosting electric conversations with the marketing leaders shaping tomorrow’s customer experiences. Register for your Executive All-Access Pass to drop in throughout the week for refreshing wellness experiences and intimate conversations with the technologists leading the next wave of agentic and AI-enabled transformation.
Monday, June 22 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. local time
With agents acting as the new advocate of your brand, what does it take to stay visible, trusted, and conversion-ready?
Join Deloitte Digital, Google, and HundredX for an executive conversation on how agentic commerce and independent data is reshaping the path to purchase in retail. As discovery shifts to AI-driven experiences, the session will highlight how generative engine optimization (GEO), personalization, verified independent human data, and a Unified Commerce Platform (UCP) can strengthen the path from discovery to checkout. We’ll also discuss what this means for your owned properties, and what AI-driven search and agentic commerce mean for brand presence, product signals, and the future of retail media.
Monday, June 22 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. local time
As streaming, commerce, and media converge, storytelling is no longer confined to the screen—it’s playing a role in measurable business outcomes. For entertainment and media brands, this creates a new opportunity to extend narratives beyond awareness toward action. This session explores how the combined power of VIZIO and Walmart Connect helps connect premium content environments with real-time commerce signals, helping partners activate from storytelling on the TV screen to real-world conversion. Through real examples and emerging capabilities, we’ll discuss how studios and media partners can turn engagement into measurable outcomes, reaching net-new audiences and driving measurable results.
Speakers:
Monday, June 22 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. local time
It’s no surprise that today’s fans expect personalized digital engagement and more meaningful experiences when they attend sporting events in person. Every touchpoint has the opportunity to deepen loyalty with fans and move the needle for a brand. Join Deloitte Digital for a fireside chat with McLaren Racing to hear how data and innovation can help meet evolving customer expectations and drive future potential.
Speakers:
Monday, June 22 | 4:30–6:00 p.m. local time
Cocktails and lite bites to follow in the Executive Loft
Speed, Scale, Control: B2B Marketing’s Hardest Tradeoff
This roundtable brings together senior B2B marketing leaders for a closed-door conversation on one of the hardest tensions in the industry right now: how to accelerate content, campaigns, and AI-driven innovation without compromising brand integrity, governance, or trust. As pressure mounts to do more with less—and faster—CMOs are being forced to rethink how decisions get made, how work flows, and where control should sit. In this intimate session, leaders will share where speed is unlocking value, where it’s creating risk, and what it actually takes to move at pace without breaking the system. No slides, no recordings, just a candid exchange of what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s changing next.
Tuesday, June 23 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. local time
Is your marketing organization structured to compete in a future where AI agents are not just tools, but core members of your team?
For CMOs, this represents the next frontier of digital transformation, demanding a fundamental rethinking of team structures, talent, and operational models. This session brings together visionary CMOs at the forefront of this evolution for a candid discussion on how to design the marketing organization for an agentic future.
Speakers:
Tuesday, June 23 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. local time
Join Deloitte Digital for a fireside chat with Sonia Doshi, VP of Strategy, Operations, Design and Production at Disney StudioLAB, on how StudioLAB approaches innovation and collaboration to support the future of storytelling. This conversation will explore how emerging technologies are used to empower creative teams, strengthen cross-functional partnership, and turn bold ideas into practical value.
Speakers:
Tuesday, June 23 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. local time
How can authentic community engagement accelerate brand value?
Online communities can be a huge unlock in driving discovery and engagement for brands. But authenticity matters, and not every campaign is created equal. How do you design, deliver, and measure campaigns that resonate with niche audiences?
Speakers:
Wednesday, June 24 | 9:00–10:00 a.m. local time
The deep connections and active engagement fans feel for their favorite musicians and shows is a gold mine of potential value beyond the IP itself. From cross-brand collaboration, creator integration to licensing and merchandising deals, what new revenue opportunities can be unlocked when fan passion is funneled to the right new product and service offerings across financial, consumer, and technology brands?
Speakers:
Thursday, June 25 | 9:00–10:00 a.m. local time
In the expanding world of retail media networks, what’s working to accelerate discovery, conversion, and time to value?
Retail media networks are reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate, and select purchases from their favorite consumer brands. Join us for a robust exploration of the increasingly valuable role media networks play in a rapidly accelerating digital advertising ecosystem.
Speakers:
Overlooking the Palais, this cool and comfortable retreat from the bustle of Cannes Lions offers deep discussion with the leaders shaping the next wave of experience transformation.
7 Boulevard de la Croissette (Dior Building), 06400 Cannes, France
Enjoy curated conversations with industry leaders, sparkling cocktails and elevated French fare with sweeping ocean views from the Deloitte Digital Apartment. Situated across from the Palais, our hosted roundtable discussions offer an air-conditioned break from the action along with insights from innovators in your industry.
Monday, June 22 | 2:00–4:00 p.m. local time
What surprising signals are about to define the next decade of advertising?
Join Deloitte and Meta for a lively and intimate discussion on all things "Future of Advertising." This invite-only experience will convene leaders, visionaries and disruptors to candidly explore the future of advertising and the role of advertising in accelerating value on every channel and with every customer.
Discussion themes will include:
Discussion leads:
Wednesday, June 24 | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. local time
In an increasingly fragmented media marketplace, how can life sciences and health care organizations cut through the communications clutter and connect more deeply with patients and caregivers in the moments that matter most? Part salon, part roundtable, part festive champagne brunch, this intimate invite-only conversation pairs elevated champagne cocktails and savory French dishes with the brightest minds for a sparkling conversation around the innovations improving patient engagement and driving more proactive health action. Together we will explore the innovative ways life sciences and health care organizations are connecting directly with patients to educate, engage, and drive more proactive health action.
Discussion leads:
“Deep conversations with some of the best and brightest minds are one of the most valuable things we look forward to annually. This year's conversations with CMOs and brand leaders will become the big picture insights that drive the future of the marketing industry. We can't wait to share them with you.”
Stacy Kemp
Executive lead of Deloitte’s CMO Program
Deloitte Digital Onstage
Monday, June 22 | 10:30–11 a.m. local time
Location: FQ Beach
Deloitte Digital Speaker: Shruti Jayakumar
Innovation gets headlines. Trust earns loyalty. As technology becomes more embedded in how we live and work, leaders can no longer design for theory. They should design for reality, grounded in how decisions are made and how people actually navigate their days. This session brings together leaders building technology with empathy, accountability, and cultural intelligence at the core.
Monday, June 22 |12–12:30 p.m. local time
Location: FQ Beach
Deloitte Digital Speaker: Kirsten Rhodes
Leadership has never been a solo pursuit. In a world shaped by constant change, meaningful relationships are often accelerators of growth and resilience. This conversation brings together leaders who’ve built communities rooted in trust, generosity, and shared ambition. Learn how investing in your pack can help strengthen influence, expand opportunity, and create impact that lasts.
Tuesday, June 23 | 10:30–11 a.m. local time
Location: FQ Beach
Deloitte Digital Speaker: Jenny Kelly
Agentic AI is in its infancy, yet it’s already reshaping how work flows and ideas come to life. As systems take on more execution, leaders have an opportunity to focus on judgment, creativity, and human connection. The shift is not about replacing roles, but expanding them, unlocking new ways to work, lead, and collaborate more inclusively. This panel brings together leaders who are actively using agentic AI to rethink how teams operate and deliver impact.
Our Recorded at Cannes content series brings you exclusive conversations and insights from the world’s most influential brands, recorded live onsite at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Alan kicks off the series with candid confessions from marketing’s brightest minds, as they reveal how creators, data and authenticity are reshaping the industry.
Hear from Celia Salsi, global head of product marketing at YouTube, on why attention, relevance and trust are crucial for brands striving to stand out in a crowded market; Kaya Yurieff, team leader for the creator economy at The Information, on creators' complex and evolving identities; and Emma Simkiss, associate director of brand and marketing at the International Olympic Committee, on how authentic fan engagement is measured by meaningful interaction and loyalty, not just numbers. And many more!
Tune in to this episode as Alan chats with Andrew Messina, senior vice president at Disney Advertising, about the evolution of advertising and how Disney’s portfolio is creating new opportunities for brands.
Andrew shares how live events—particularly women’s sports—are shaping advertising, highlights the importance of relationship-building in media sales, and explains Disney’s approach to reaching diverse audiences. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship and how AI and youth culture are influencing marketing strategies.
Alan meets with Sean Downey, president of Americas and Global Partners at Google, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to talk about AI’s impact on marketing. Sean shares how Google is building AI and automation into its advertising platforms to help marketers improve performance while protecting consumer privacy.
He notes the pressure on teams to be more efficient than ever and how AI tools can help them work smarter and keep up with shifting behaviors. He also underscores the role of first-party data, privacy-safe solutions, strong change management and a growth mindset. Sean also reflects on leadership lessons around authenticity, empathy and continuous learning.
In this episode, Alan and David Sandstrom, chief marketing officer at Klarna, discuss how embracing change, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and balancing data-driven efficiency with creativity are shaping the future of marketing and brand-building.
Klarna is a financial technology company that is well-known for its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) options. David highlights the macroeconomic trends that he believes are contributing to the growth of BNPL, while also sharing Klarna’s efforts to diversify their offerings with digital banking and mobile phone plans. Innovation and experimentation are core to Klarna’s culture, and can be seen in initiatives like their interactive customer hotline featuring an AI avatar of their chief executive officer.
When your brand touches 90% of the US, the challenge isn’t just reaching people—it’s reinventing how they see you.
At Cannes Lions 2025, Deloitte’s CMO Program Executive Lead Stacy Kemp sat down with Walmart CMO William White to discuss Walmart’s transformation journey. From GenAI-powered personalization to a bold new creative identity, William shares his perspective on how Walmart is evolving behind the scenes and out in the world.
In an age of infinite content, attention is harder to earn—and creativity matters more than ever. At Cannes Lions, Deloitte’s CMO Program Executive Lead Stacy Kemp sat down with Instacart CMO Laura Jones to explore how brands can break through in a world shaped by AI, retail media fragmentation, and rising consumer expectations. From nostalgic campaigns to evolving talent, Laura shares how Instacart is building for what’s next.
At Cannes Lions 2025, Deloitte’s CMO Program Executive Lead Stacy Kemp sat down with Claudine Cheever, vice president, Global Brand & Marketing at Amazon (now chief marketing officer at Pinterest), to talk about the evolving role of the CMO. From balancing global consistency with local nuance to rethinking AI as a teammate—not just a tool—Claudine shares how she approaches long-term brand building, creativity, and growth at scale.
“At Cannes Lions 2026, Deloitte Digital is focused on helping brands accelerate value across every customer touchpoint. Join us at the Journal House where we'll be hosting conversations with world-class industry leaders on agentic AI, omnichannel personalization and the future of marketing organizations in the age of AI.”
Mark Singer
US chief marketing officer, Deloitte Digital
SOURCES
1. Deloitte, A new frontier in artificial intelligence: Implications of Generative AI for business, 2023, accessed March 13, 2025.
2. Deloitte Digital, Personalization: It's a value exchange between brands and customers, 2024, accessed March 15, 2025.
3. Deloitte Digital, 2025 State of Social Research: How efficiency can meet impact with the right investments, 2025, accessed March 16, 2025.
