CANNES DYNAMIC 2025

Voted the world’s best destination for festivals and events, Cannes is rolling out a 12-month tourism strategy

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes, Jean-Michel Arnaud, President and Bruno Desloques, General Manager of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, and their teams presented the 2025 tourism strategy and actions at the Hi5 studio, in front of more than 350 Cannes socio-professionals.

Published on 28 November 2024

David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes

“The year 2024 has confirmed the dynamism and influence of Cannes, our city has become a leading international destination for events, tourism and culture. This success, the fruit of a collective commitment, encourages us to go even further in 2025. I would like to congratulate all the teams at the town hall and the Palais, as well as the professionals, on this worldwide recognition. By focusing on municipal innovation, excellence in hospitality and the expertise of local socio-professionals, Cannes is poised to take on new challenges and seize the opportunities of a constantly evolving world. In 2025, we will pursue this dynamic to improve our results and reinforce Cannes as a global benchmark, a model of creativity and sustainable development.“

Jean-Michel Arnaud, President of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès

In 2025, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes continues its drive for excellence. By deploying an ambitious strategic action plan, our teams are strengthening our position and developing major new opportunities. With the hosting of major new professional events, a bold and renewed cultural program, and significant investments to modernize our infrastructures, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès is set to welcome over 150 events by 2025. These initiatives, driven by an innovative and sustainable vision, will strengthen our economic and cultural appeal, while laying out a promising outlook for the future .

President of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes

An excellent record for 2024

A 2024 marked by rising attendance and economic spin-offs 2024 was an exceptional year, with higher attendance figures for all events and new actions:

75 professional events, 350,000 participants, 340 days of activity ;
81 shows programmed by the Palais + 3 days of Plages Electroniques and 8 Bals des Fous;
Hotel occupancy up +4% from May to September compared with 2023.

The destination renews itself and moves upmarket

The reopening of Palm Beach, with new benchmark restaurant brands;
New hotel and private beach openings: MOB Hôtel, Edgar Suites, Lucia, Copal Beach, etc. ;
A 7th 5* hotel in Cannes with the Belle Plage.

Historic treble for Cannes This dynamism and vitality were recognized for the third year running as “World’s Best Destination for Festivals and Events” at the World Travel Awards 2024.

2025, a promising year

To capitalize on this recognition, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes is deploying an ambitious and aggressive action plan, focusing on the following key areas: 9 new professional events signed for 2025:

ETHCC8 – Ethereum Community Conference, from June 30 to July 3 (the major blockchain event!) ;
ETH Global, July 4 to 6;
IGTM – International Golf Travel Market, October 20 to 23 ;
Reply, November 13 to 15;
ERTC – European Refining Technology Conference, November 18-20;
Congrès de Médecine Générale, May 30-31;
Longevity, June 23-25;
35th IFSCC Congress, September 15-18;
17th French Psychiatry Congress, December 10-17.

Organizers of major events renew their contracts: RX (5 years), ILTM (5 years), Cannes Lions (2 years), etc. A cultural program that keeps on renewing and attracting more and more visitors:

39 performances, dance, music, theater;
New: A comedy weekend on April 3, 5 and 6, 2025;
MIDƐM 25 from January 29 to 31, 2025, in co-production with Live Nation and an explosive LIVE program: IAM and the Orchestre National de Cannes, Mika, La Femme and Irène Drésel, Yodelice, Ko Ko Mo…
Festival International des Jeux, the 1st gaming event on the French-speaking market, from February 28 to March 2, 2025, with an opening on February 26 for professionals. In 2024, 85,000 admissions, 5,000 professionals, 400 journalists and influencers;
The Cannes – Côte d’Azur France Dance Festival will take place from November 22 to December 7, 2025, with the program to be revealed in April.

Investments for an ever more modern and competitive Palais:

1 million euros invested by the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes to integrate Dolby Atmos immersive sound in the Grand Auditorium from the 78th edition of the Cannes Festival;
Modernization of the Salon des Ambassadeurs;
Installation of 5 LED screens from 5 to 36 m², 12 mobile totems in portrait mode, and 7 fixed LCD screens in landscape mode;

A winter campaign: “Extend summer into spring”: This attractive campaign to promote seasonal wings is deployed in France, Northern Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK:

press operations, press trips ;
advertising campaign ;
poster campaign in the Paris metro, Milan ;
Expedia UK, Sweden and Norway campaign.

Crowned the World’s Best Destination for Festivals and Events for the third year running at the World Travel Awards, Cannes is looking to 2025 with even greater ambition. Buoyed by this international recognition, the city, in collaboration with the Palais des Festivals, is rolling out major initiatives: prestigious new events, bold cultural programming and strategic investments. Cannes continues to evolve as a global benchmark, embodying innovation, excellence and international influence.

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