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← Back to IdeasOgilvy at Cannes Lions 2026
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world's premier gathering where the unique power of imagination is celebrated. Each year, it unites top creative minds from across the globe to showcase groundbreaking work, share innovative ideas, and inspire future possibilities.
At Cannes Lions 2026, Ogilvy is thrilled to host an inspiring series of activities and sessions at our Ogilvy Terrace. From thought-provoking talks to vibrant moments celebrating the undeniable impact of our network's Borderless Creativity, we invite you to join us.
Discover below how Ogilvy will be making its presence felt on the Croisette throughout the Festival.
Ogilvy On — Health
The Health Consumer Has Spoken. Are You Listening (or Selling Like Yesterday)?
Monday, June 22, 12:00 - 12:45 pm
Ogilvy Terrace
Healthcare is rapidly shifting from an HCP-centric to a consumer-driven marketplace. The long-standing paradigm, where the doctor was the sole gatekeeper and marketing’s model revolved entirely around HCPs, is no longer. Today, empowered patients, leveraging digital tools, communities, and direct-to-patient pathways, are making health decisions much like they choose a lifestyle brand. The panel — featuring Raahki Sippy, VP and Global Commercialization Leader at GSK; Sophie Bailley Maitre, SVP of Marketing, Europe at Colgate; Justin Thomas-Copeland, CEO at 4As; Melissa Brotz, CMO of Abbott; Deborah Donaldson, Associate Vice President, Go to Market Leader, US of Lilly Direct and moderated by Mario Muredda, Global CEO of Ogilvy Health, will explore how healthcare – traditionally focused on efficacy and clinical data – can become 'consumer-first' by drawing lessons from the emotional connection, community-building, and aspirational marketing that defines iconic consumer brands. We’ll focus on 'above-brand' marketing that’s vital for global audiences facing strict DTC regulations and how to engage consumers and build loyalty when product promotion is limited, while unpacking non-traditional practices, including ethical celebrity endorsements, vibrant online communities, and personalized experiences. Join the conversation on balancing innovation, ethics, and regulation as the industry embraces the beloved consumer brand mindset.
How Media Owners are Powering 2026’s Most Creative Work
Monday, June 22, 12:30 - 1:15 pm
Little Black Book & Friends Beach
Truth and trust are in short supply, but inspiration doesn't have to be. While the industry grapples with the 'Slop Age,' a new wave of media innovation is proving that the platform itself can be the most powerful creative tool in a brand’s arsenal. Whether it’s the immersive scale of 3D OOH, the intimate power of audio, or the community-driven energy of social, media is taking center stage. Samira Ansari, Chief Creative Officer of Grey US joins a panel with Tusar Barik, senior vice president, marketing, New York Times Advertising, Kellie Espina, head of creative strategy, Americas, Spotify, Mark Bucknell, chief commercial officer, JCDecaux, Jennifer Carey, director of media and effectiveness, Channel 4, and moderated by Brittney Rigby, managing editor AUNZ, Little Black Book
For more info: https://beach.lbbonline.com/2026
The Soul in the Machine: Why Meaning is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
Tuesday, June 23, 9:00 - 10:30 am
CMO Fireside
WPP Rooftop, Martinez Hotel
AI can generate content. It cannot generate meaning. In the age of algorithms, the human story has never mattered more. This panel explores how authenticity, cultural context, and distinctive storytelling build the trust that drives lasting brand growth — and why human creativity provides a powerful competitive advantage. Featuring creative icons and world-class marketers, we'll examine how the world's leading brands build genuine consumer connections and make people feel something. Our Global Chief Creative Officer Liz Taylor will be moderating an incredible and star-studded panel, led by Actress, Producer, Director and Activist Eva Longoria, Photographer and Director Rankin (John Rankin Waddell), Cristina Diezhandino, Chief Marketing Officer for Diageo, and John Rudaizky, Global Chief Brand & Marketing Officer for EY.
For more details on WPP programming, visit www.wpp.com/cannes
Ogilvy On — Partnerships
Read it, Pin It, Play It: How Culture Off the Feed is Fueling Brands’ Future
Tuesday, June 23, 11:00 - 11:45 am
Ogilvy Terrace
The most powerful brand moves of the last few years weren't made alone. They were built with someone else, across dynamic platforms where culture is being shaped in more places than ever—from Reddit threads and Pinterest mood boards to Spotify playlists. The brands winning culture today aren't waiting for the right moment—they're engineering it through bold, unexpected collaborations across entertainment, music, food, gaming, and beyond. This masterclass — moderated by Carol Reed, Global Chief Innovation Officer, The Ogilvy Group and featuring Matthew Gerrard, Head of International Creative Strategy at Reddit, Kay Hsu, Head of Global Creative Lab for Spotify, and Sara Pollack, Vice President, Global Head of Consumer Marketing for Pinterest — will reveal how iconic brands and leading platforms are rewriting partnership rules, transitioning from platform guests to strategic collaborators. You'll discover the playbook for leveraging expertise as a creative spark to become genuine contributors, not interrupters, and achieve deeper consumer relevance, new commerce pathways, and compounding business growth.
Inside the Jury Room: Health & Wellness Lions
Tuesday, June 23, 1:00 – 1:30 pm
Basement Stage, The Palais
What is it about some pieces of work that makes them stand out to a Jury? What does it take to become a Lion winner? Join this session to get first-hand insights into why this year’s Jury decided on the work that will set the benchmark for the year ahead. You’ll hear from Kainaz Karmakar, Ogilvy India's Chief Creative Officer and other world-class Jury members as they discuss what made this year’s winners truly special. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate creativity and gain valuable knowledge from industry experts. More details here (Cannes pass required).
Game Changers: Why Women's Sports is the Biggest Win for Brands right now!
Tuesday, June 23, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
WPP Rooftop
As the FIFA Men's World Cup gets underway, forward-thinking brands are already looking at a bigger opportunity. Backed by provocative new WPP research, our all-female power panel explore what it takes to build iconic partnerships in Women's Sports—moving beyond sponsorship into tangible, long-lasting growth. With the Women's World Cup just 12 months away, find out what the world's leading brands are doing right now to win. Vickie Segar, Global Chief Sports & Entertainment Officer, The Ogilvy Group will moderate a panel featuring Kate Schoff, Head of Sports & Entertainment for JP Morgan Chase, Andrea Hopelain, SVP Marketing for EA Sports, and Kate Scott-Dawkins, Global President, Business Intelligence, WPP Media.
For more details on WPP programming, visit www.wpp.com/cannes
A Toast to Celebrate Creativity
Tuesday, June 23, 7:30-10:30 pm
Attendance is by invitation only
Cannes is a moment for our community to celebrate. We’d love for you to join us as we raise a glass to the exponential power of human craft, bold ideas, and the partnerships that make it all possible.
Ogilvy On — Sports & Entertainment
Beyond the Badge: How Sports Builds Brands that Belong
Wednesday, June 24, 11:00 - 11:45 am
Ogilvy Terrace
As the ‘golden era’ of sports kicks off with the FIFA Men’s World Cup, one question sits at the center of every serious brand conversation: how do you build genuine connection with the communities shaping the next waves of culture and commerce? The next several years aren’t just changing the sports calendar—they’re profoundly reshaping the business of culture, demanding a new approach from brands. Driving this future is a fundamental shift in how live sports are shared among fans and what shape sponsorship takes as authentic athlete storytelling and brand-driven entertainment converge. Vickie Segar, Global Chief Sports & Entertainment Officer, The Ogilvy Group will moderate a panel featuring Radhika Duggal, Chief Marketing Officer, Major League Soccer, Arnab Roy, President, Global Category, The Coca-Cola Company, and Orlando Baeza, Vice President of Brand & Creative, Chime on turning fan passion into business and will explore what it takes to move beyond the static sponsorship — and into the kind of brand belonging that drives lasting fandom.
Inside the Jury Room: Entertainment Lions for Sport
Wednesday, June 24, 1:00 – 1:45 pm
LIONS Sport Stage, The Carlton Hotel
What is it about some pieces of work that makes them stand out to a Jury? What does it take to become a Lion winner? Join this session to get first-hand insights into why this year’s Jury decided on the work that will set the benchmark for the year ahead. You’ll hear from André Toledo, DAVID New York's Chief Creative Officer and other world-class Jury members as they discuss what made this year’s winners truly special. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate creativity and gain valuable knowledge from industry experts. More details here (Cannes pass required).
Ogilvy On — Social & Influence
The Participation Premium: Moving from Campaigns to Communities
Thursday, June 25, 11:00 - 11:45 am
Ogilvy Terrace
The future of brand storytelling is here, and brands are mastering it by elevating co-creation as an essential strategy. A decade ago, brands competed for media. Five years ago, it was attention. Today, they’re competing for active, credible participation in culture. But what does that really look like, and how do you do it in a world where culture moves faster than corporate marketing cycles? In this session, we’ll unpack how leading brands are making a seismic shift — building more agile creative systems, more deeply integrating creators and talent into their process, and ultimately reframing content from mere distribution channels to trusted bridges into communities where true relevance and resonance are built. Moderated by Drew Warren, President, Client Integration, Ogilvy US, a panel featuring Ricardo Aspiazu, Senior Vice President, Creative & Brand Design at Verizon, Ghadeer Khub, Creative, Social & Digital Department Director for The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, Keiko Mori, Head of Creative Product Marketing and Ops, North America at TikTok, and Charlotte Collins, Editor in Chief for SheerLuxe, will delve into how co-creation strategies can unlock unique brand perspective and identity, and probe what often holds brands back from this transformative approach — revealing the most effective ways to empower creators, earn attention, and create lasting cultural relevance in this participatory digital age.
Sooooo…What Even Is An Agency in 2026?
Thursday, June 25, 2:30 – 3:15 pm
Little Black Book & Friends Beach
The language of advertising is struggling. The simple enough vocab that we’ve used for years to describe the companies that make up the industry just doesn’t seem to cut it any more. There are holding companies doing everything they can not to be holding companies. Production companies that look suspiciously like agencies. Indies with footprints and capabilities to rival any network. New micro-holding companies bubbling up in surprising places. And hoards of roaming loan wolves and two-three people mercenary bands doing the work of agencies. This session pulls together leaders from across the industry, including Ogilvy's Global CEO Laurent Ezekiel alongside Nicole Rowett, Managing Director, New York, Mother, Jackie Stevenson, Chief Global Strategy and Innovation Officer of M+C Saatchi Group, COO Residence's Madison Wharton, and 19th & Park Founder Tahira White to discuss these evolving business models, where they’re going and what the heck we should call them.
For more info: https://beach.lbbonline.com/2026
What Won & Why?
Thursday, June 25, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
WPP Rooftop
Ogilvy’s Liz Taylor joins a conversation with WPP’s Chief Creative Officer Rob Reilly and creative leaders from across WPP to unpack the insights and lessons from what won at Cannes and why.
For more details on WPP programming, visit www.wpp.com/cannes
Inside the Jury Room: Creative Strategy Lions
Friday, June 26, 12:30 - 1:00 pm
Basement Stage, The Palais
What is it about some pieces of work that makes them stand out to a Jury? What does it take to become a Lion winner? Join this session to get first-hand insights into why this year’s Jury decided on the work that will set the benchmark for the year ahead. You’ll hear from Neo Makhele, Ogilvy South Africa's Chief Strategy Officer, and other world-class Jury members as they discuss what made this year’s winners truly special. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate creativity and gain valuable knowledge from industry experts. More details here (Cannes pass required).