In an age defined by the rise of AI, where efficiency is prized and algorithms are trusted, the way we express human will has become more important than ever. This session introduces Hands & Heads, a philosophy that blends art and copy with human values, bringing together craft and strategy, intuition and logic, to create deeper, more meaningful creativity.
Hands & Heads is about merging sensibility, Hands, with intellect, Heads, in an approach that values creation rooted in human insight, something efficiency alone can never achieve. It’s a mindset that seeks out the essence of a challenge and embraces the kind of creativity only humans can bring to life. Through this approach, we unlock and realign brand assets for today’s context, helping to redesign the very trajectory of a brand. By raising the quality of output, we don't just meet demand, we create it.
Join us as we share key case studies and walk you through the strategies behind this human-centered creative transformation.
In a world where attention is the ultimate currency, sports and entertainment have become the most powerful platforms for brands to connect with audiences at scale and become powerful cultural engines. This series of panels brings together visionary brands, influential rights holders, and iconic talent to explore how the biggest cultural moments are created, captured, and converted into brand success stories. Join us at the dentsu Beach House to uncover the strategies behind the moments that change brands and shape culture.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | AN INTRODUCTION TO DENTSU SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JEAN LIN, Global President - Global Practices, dentsu
YOSHI ISE, Global Head of Sports & Entertainment, and Deputy Chief Strategy Officer, dentsu
CATHY BOXALL, Global Head Of Entertainment, dentsu
MATT MANNING, Global CEO, MKTG Sports + Entertainment & Global President, Dentsu Sports International
BRENT KONING, EVP, Global Gaming Lead, dentsu
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL JOHNSON - GRAND SLAM TRACK, THE NEXT ERA OF ATHLETICS
One of the greatest sprinters of all time, multiple world records, four Olympic gold medals, eight Word Champion gold medals - Michael Johnson's career on the track was unprecedented, with nearly a decade of domination. Don't miss the chance to join us as we dive into his career, the world of athletics today and the momentum behind Grand Slam Track, the next era of athletics which Michael is pioneering.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, CEO & Commissioner, Grand Slam Track & Olympian
MATT MANNING, Global CEO, MKTG Sports + Entertainment & Global President, Dentsu Sports International
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | UR CRISTIANO: RONALDO’S JOURNEY FROM FOOTBALL ICON TO MEDIA PLAYER
TOMÁS FROES, CEO Dentsu Creative Iberia
PEDRO PINA, VP, Middle East And Africa, YouTube
SARAH DALE, Head of Global Partnerships & Entertainment, Binance
MODERATED BY: SEB JOSEPH, Executive Editor, Digiday
The launch of UR Cristiano, Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel, wasn’t just a record-breaking moment - it marked a seismic shift in how athletes, platforms and brands operate. Ronaldo didn’t just go live, he went direct. As the most successful athlete-driven media launch in history, this wasn’t about content, it was about ownership, innovation and cultural power.
In this panel, leaders from YouTube, Binance, dentsu and Dentsu Creative unpack Ronaldo's 'first dance', from global football icon to media powerhouse. They reveal the inside story of the launch, the strategy behind his partnerships, and how this signals a new playbook for brands, creators and fans alike.
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM | ANGRY BIRDS: A TALE OF MULTICHANNEL ENTERTAINMENT
DAN CHUBA, Film Producer & Co-Founder, Flywheel
HANNA VALKEAPÄÄ-NOKKALA, VP Transmedia, Rovio
GENEVA WASSERMAN, EVP, Film & TV Development & Financing, Dentsu Entertainment
MODERATED BY: BRIAN BONILLA, Senior Reporter, Ad Age
Delve into the journey of Angry Birds from a popular mobile game to a global cultural phenomenon. Ahead of the release of The Angry Birds Movie 3 in worldwide theatres in 2027, join us to learn how the power of storytelling turned a game with over 5bn downloads into a Hollywood movie and transmedia franchise with a global box office of +$500M.
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | PEOPLE, PURPOSE, AND PASSION: A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH PARIS HILTON
PARIS HILTON, CEO of 11:11 Media
NATE NICELY, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Media, dentsu
Influence is the new infrastructure behind global commerce—and few executives understand its economics better than Paris Hilton, CEO of 11:11 Media. Hilton’s blueprint demonstrates a fundamental truth of modern brand building: purpose‑driven fandom is not a cost center but a scalable profit engine. Her track record is hard to dispute: a chart‑topping music catalogue, a consumer products empire that exceeds billions in sales, and influencing policies that advanced child protection standards across the globe. In this session, Paris Hilton reveals how prioritizing people, purpose, and passion turns cultural moments into powerful business growth and measurable social impact, demonstrating that when you lead with purpose, profit naturally follows.
For a limited time only, Nikka Whisky brings its flagship bar from Tokyo to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Originally opened in Tokyo in 2024, the bar became a sensation for its exclusive cocktail collaborations with top bars from across Japan, and for showcasing the many ways to enjoy Nikka’s diverse range of whiskies. Dentsu Beach House guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind cocktails — from playful twists on classics to boundary-pushing originals — all crafted with the spirit of Nikka.
Join us to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Formula 1 has become more than just a motorsport—it's a global cultural phenomenon with one of the most passionate and rapidly growing fanbases in the world. In this dynamic panel, we’ll explore how brands can harness the power of F1 fandom to drive meaningful connections with consumers and unlock brand growth.
Featuring McLaren Racing CMO, Louise McEwen, Hilton CMO, Mark Weinstein, the BBC’s co-presenter of the Chequered Flag, Harry Benjamin, and iProspect CEO, Liz Rutgersson, this conversation will delve into the evolving F1 marketing landscape and how brands can leverage the sport's global appeal, from immersive TV broadcasts and the Netflix hit Drive to Survive, to race-city activations, podcasting, social media engagement, and more. We’ll take a deep dive into Hilton’s success story—highlighting how the brand has driven growth and customer engagement through its McLaren partnership—and examine broader trends for tapping into the F1 potential across categories.
Moderated by: Liz Rutgersson, CEO, North America, iProspect
Join us to hear the story behind the creation of Captain Tsubasa, one of the longest standing and most successful sports-themed anime of all time. Credited with inspiring a young Lionel Messi, Takahashi-sensei will talk about his inspirations and what's next for this beloved character.
Moderated by Sayoko Baba, Anime Producer, dentsu Japan
Anime has become a global phenomenon, growing to become a $25bn+ annual revenue industry - one in which dentsu plays a key role in the production, development and growth of IP. With as many as 1 in 3 Gen Z watching it on a weekly basis, how do brands authentically take part in this cultural wave?
Join this session to discover why Azuki built their brand through anime and authentic storytelling, and how dentsu helped bring their ambitions to life.
Moderated by: Pascal Rotteveel, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu Lab
At the heart of culture, media, and creativity lies The Carat Cultural Catalyst — an energizing beachside event that blends thought leadership, creator power, and next-gen insight into an unforgettable Cannes experience. Across 90 minutes of live sessions and creative connection, guests will explore the forces driving cultural relevance and brand performance in the Algorithmic Era. Expect deep thinking, bold voices, and unexpected moments from Carat leaders, creators, and industry trailblazers.
For a limited time only, Nikka Whisky brings its flagship bar from Tokyo to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Originally opened in Tokyo in 2024, the bar became a sensation for its exclusive cocktail collaborations with top bars from across Japan, and for showcasing the many ways to enjoy Nikka’s diverse range of whiskies. Dentsu Beach House guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind cocktails — from playful twists on classics to boundary-pushing originals — all crafted with the spirit of Nikka.
When sports first hit the screens, athletes simply competed in front of a larger audience. It wasn’t long before that went global and digital technologies created myriad new ways to reach audiences that were quickly becoming fans. Today, we’re entering a new era of sports, where fans are demanding new formats, new ways to get closer to athletes and teams, and a world in which rights holders, athletes and brands are architecting a new order. Hear from US tennis star Sloane Stephens and Minute Media President, Rich Routman on their plans for Sports 3.0.
Moderated by: Matt Manning, Global CEO, MKTG Sports & Dentsu Sports International President
The creator economy is changing how brands connect with audiences. In this panel, we'll explore how creators, influencers, and the cultural moments they tap into, shape long-term brand storytelling—not just one-off posts. Learn how top brands are connecting with audiences by building authentic partnerships that drive trust and engagement. From community-led content to platform-native storytelling, discover how creators are helping brands tap into cultural moments and fandoms in real time, sparking emotional connections that traditional marketing can’t always reach. Join us for a candid look at the new rules of influence in a world that values authenticity over ads.
Moderated by: Bridget Jewell, Executive Creative Director & Head of Social Creative Lab, Dentsu Creative
Cutting through media noise, iProspect Global Client President, Dan Friel hosts Carlsberg’s Global Head of Media, Henna Mertsola, Author and advertising industry heavyweight Les Binet, and Lumen’s MD, Mike Follet to show attention metrics turn authentic engagement into cultural relevance and sustained commercial growth.
Moderated by: Tifenn Cloarec, Global Head of Strategy, iProspect
Generative AI is transitioning from an experimental tool to a core enterprise operation, revolutionizing how businesses craft personalized digital experiences. By leveraging commercially safe AI models, companies can confidently integrate GenAI into their workflows, ensuring brand integrity and IP protection. This panel will explore how enterprises are implementing GenAI to enhance creativity, streamline content creation, and deliver tailored customer interactions at scale.
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As content demands surge across channels, brands are under pressure to create more, faster—while staying true to their brand identity. At the same time, generative AI is reshaping the marketing and creative landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for scale and efficiency. But unlocking its full potential requires a thoughtful approach that preserves quality, consistency, and brand integrity. Explore how generative AI is transforming how we scale content production without compromising creativity or brand control.
Moderated by: Jason Oke, Global Client President, dentsu
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From growing up with anytime, anywhere video to immersive gaming and social storytelling, the next generation of consumers is redefining how creativity, community, and commerce collide.
In this future-forward session, Val Vacante, SVP, Solutions Innovation at Dentsu, leads a bold conversation with industry leaders to explore the future of brand expression and the ever-evolving media landscape.
The panel will dive into how brands are innovating through cross-platform collaboration—leveraging creators, connected ecosystems, and advanced video intelligence to co-create meaningful and measurable experiences through gaming, chatting, scanning, watching, browsing, buying, and beyond.
Together, they’ll unpack how data-driven insights, human-centered design, and next-gen media strategies are enabling more predictive, participatory, and purposeful engagement with Gen Z and Alpha—where every signal is a new opportunity to connect, convert, and create cultural relevance
The roles of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Data, Technology and AI Officers are becoming increasingly intertwined. Join dentsu, Microsoft, and JP Morgan Chase, in a session moderated by Ad Age, as we aim to bring together these key leaders across some of the largest, most innovative, organizations to discuss the intersection of data, technology, AI and creativity. Attendees will gain insights into how these parties can better collaborate to innovate, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth. Through an engaging discussion participants will explore best practices, share success stories, and identify strategies to harness cutting edge technology and AI to further creativity and redefine the future of marketing and business transformation.
Moderator: Garett Sloane, Chief Technology Reporter, Ad Age
For a limited time only, Nikka Whisky brings its flagship bar from Tokyo to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Originally opened in Tokyo in 2024, the bar became a sensation for its exclusive cocktail collaborations with top bars from across Japan, and for showcasing the many ways to enjoy Nikka’s diverse range of whiskies. Dentsu Beach House guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind cocktails — from playful twists on classics to boundary-pushing originals — all crafted with the spirit of Nikka.
"Culture is not made up of things, people, or deeds; it is the invisible bonds that tie them together." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
In this fireside chat, we will explore how marketers can harness the power of cultural understanding to create authentic, emotionally resonant creative campaigns that not only deliver against business objectives but also build lasting connections with diverse audiences.
In an era where consumers prioritise authenticity and social awareness, Netflix’s Senior Director of Marketing Partnerships for EMEA, Jordan Peters and dentsu’s UK&I CEO, Annette Male, will discuss how brands tackle the challenge of social relevance to stand out while staying meaningful. Multi-million-dollar campaigns can cut through, but it is also the speed and agility to connect with consumers in ways that evoke emotions and create powerful experiences people want to talk about.
Join the discussion and hear how brands need to combine creativity and culture, to create conversations that ultimately increase engagement with their audiences.
Moderated by: Jessica Tamsedge, CEO, Dentsu Creative UK
In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, shoppable moments are no longer limited to traditional touchpoints—they're everywhere. Consumers are engaging with content in entirely new ways, and brands have unprecedented opportunities to meet them where they are. Join, us for a conversation with eBay, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Criteo, Roku and dentsu as we unpack modern consumerism and how brands can connect to culture to drive commercial results. We’ll also unveil new research from Roku and dentsu that explores how consumers are engaging with Shoppable TV formats, which product categories are resonating, and how brands can stand out.
Today’s modern marketer needs a tsunami of content to fuel their funnel. But how do you balance the scale required to meet the business needs with the craft required to stand out in a cluttered space with limited budgets. As a marketer would you dare to activate this way?
Moderated by: Stephen Kiely, CEO, Tag Americas & JT Pierce, COO & GM, Tag Americas
In an era where creative expression is increasingly shaped by communities and platforms, this session explores how brands can unlock new value through User-Generated Content (UGC) ecosystems. With a spotlight on Roblox, dentsu’s House of Creators initiative, and the rise of next-gen creator communities, we’ll showcase how gaming, fashion, and community-powered storytelling are converging to redefine the future of brand engagement.
Join Dentsu Creative, Tag and LIONS Advisory for our annual Creative Trends session. The topical discussion promises to take attendees on an inspirational journey looking through the exceptional work winning at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Leaning upon the insight from Contagious, WARC and Cannes Lions we’ll reflect on the biggest trends and creativity research to understand what new approaches the industry can harness for the future, including a Q&A moderated by Contagious’ Paul Kemp-Robertson.
Afterwards, join us for cocktails as we celebrate another year together on the Croisette.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Creative Trends
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Cocktail Hour
This exclusive evening brings together senior executives for meaningful connections, conversation, and a final toast to an unforgettable week at Cannes.
Set against the golden-hour glow of the Riviera, we’ll explore the dynamic intersection of commerce and culture, with crisp rosé, bespoke cocktails, and the effortless sophistication of the Croisette as our backdrop.
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To stay competitive and drive sustainable growth, companies need to continuously develop new businesses and services. But the breakthrough ideas required for true innovation often struggle to surface, held back by rigid corporate cultures and the weight of legacy brands. The key to overcoming this challenge lies at the intersection of human creativity and Generative AI.
In this session, we’ll share how dentsu is combining decades of creative expertise with a proprietary AI system, trained on vast datasets, brings together consultants and creatives from dentsu BX. Together, they are generating groundbreaking business ideas, beyond what could be achieved by AI or human creativity alone. Through real-world case studies, we’ll show how this synergy of human ingenuity and generative AI is redefining what’s possible in business and service innovation.
Join us to discover how this new collaboration model is unlocking a new frontier of innovation, and how it can transform the way your organisation develops its next big idea.
Enjoy a morning tour of the Cannes Lions exhibition of shortlisted and winning work at the Palais, guided by one of Dentsu Creative’s senior creatives.
Offering a deep dive into the trends, insights, and standout work that truly delivers, this is a unique opportunity to gain inspiration from a creative leader, share perspectives, and explore the best the industry has to offer.
Please note: A Palais delegate pass is required to attend. You will receive a separate email to coordinate the date and time of your tour.
On Tuesday, June 17, Reddit is sponsoring a cabana at our dentsu Beach House to showcase their new AI-powered Community Intelligence tool—an advanced insights platform designed for use across media, creative, and CXM teams. This is one of the most powerful audience intelligence tools we’ve seen, offering real-time, community-driven insights.
Reddit will be onsite Tuesday, but demos can be scheduled throughout the week upon request. Register your interest to schedule your first look at this new tool. You will receive a separate email to coordinate your demo.