Informa, the leading international B2B Live Events Group, is extending its partnership with the City of Cannes by delivering the World AI Cannes Festival (WAICF) from 2027. WAICF will sit alongside Informa’s The AI Summit Series, the longest-running international B2B AI event series, with editions across London, New York, Las Vegas, Melbourne and Singapore.
The partnership will help to expand the reach and impact of the event, and further deepens the relationship between Informa, which also owns and operates the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, with Cannes and the wider Alpes-Maritimes region.
The World AI Cannes Festival returns from tomorrow, Thursday 12 February 2026, and the fifth edition expects over 10,000 participants, 320 expert speakers and 220 exhibitors to come together for a new, enhanced programme.
Cannes is establishing itself as a global platform for businesses in creativity, innovation, and cutting-edge technologies. The decision to partner with Informa on the World AI Cannes Festival aligns with this trajectory. Informa organizes Cannes Lions, an internationally renowned event for the creative industries, whose success and influence demonstrate its expertise. By leveraging this know-how, the World AI Cannes Festival will strengthen its international ambition, establish itself sustainably in our city, and welcome global leaders in AI.
The World AI Cannes Festival is firmly establishing itself at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, which serves as a key driver for its growth. By partnering with Informa from 2027 the event will further extend its international reach and growth potential, whilst preserving its roots in Cannes. The teams at the Palais remain fully committed to support its partners on this new phase of development.
In the Alpes-Maritimes region, we have pursued a long-term AI strategy since 2017. WAICF is one of the hallmarks of this “Land of AI” dynamic we initiated five years ago, alongside the City of Cannes, the EuropIA Institute, the Maison de l’IA (House of AI), and the actions undertaken within the framework of the SMART Deal to accelerate the digital transformation, innovation, and competitiveness of our region. Partnering with Informa on WAICF will give the event the resources to strengthen the international reach of our region.
The World AI Cannes Festival, which is preparing to celebrate its 5th edition, has established itself as a key event for players in the field of artificial intelligence. The EuropIA Institute is committed alongside the WAICF to promote ethical, responsible, and innovation-driven artificial intelligence. I would like to commend the constant dedication of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council and the involvement of all the partners who have contributed to the development of the festival. Partnering with Informa on WAICF from 2027 marks a new phase in its international development.
At Informa, we have fully embraced and embedded AI into our business and our brand portfolio. This includes creating and curating The AI Summit Series in locations including London, New York and Singapore, and we are now thrilled to be deepening our relationship with Cannes to pursue our shared ambition for WAICF.
