Campaign Middle East reported live from Cannes Lions 2026, bringing readers key conversations, exclusive interviews and on-the-ground insights from the industry leaders shaping the future of advertising, media and marketing.
Throughout the week, the team spoke to regional and global brand and agency leaders, attended headline sessions, and tracked the trends defining this year’s festival — from the business of creativity and AI to the creator economy and the changing media landscape. Explore all of Campaign Middle East’s coverage from the Croisette below.
Through Day 1 at Cannes Lions, Campaign Middle East interviewed:
Setting off the tone for the festival, Dave Dugan, Vice President – Global Ad Sales, Open AI shares how AI is changing the the advertising game when it comes to the thinking and creativity.
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YouGov’s Ozge Akcizmeci shares her takeaways including the need for sandwich method of balancing AI and humans from Day One at Cannes Lions 2026.
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Habiba Allam, Head of Creative, Careem speaks to Campaign Middle East at Cannes Lions 2026 as the only regional in-house agency that had its work shortlisted at the awards. Allam dives into the details of the campaign that had them up on the walls at the festival.
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She also shared her lessons and takeaways from her time inside the jury room as one of the people judging the outdoor category at the festival.
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Campaign Middle East also caught up with Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports Foundation who shared the importance of centering communications on humans, their passion points and fandoms.
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Amit Nayak, Managing Director – Middle East and Africa, Bloomberg Media shares a few top takeaways from initial conversations at Cannes Lions 2026.
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Through Day 2 at Cannes Lions, Campaign Middle East interviewed:
On the second day, the team caught up with comedy content creator Adam W who shared his perspectives on being on the other side of brand partnerships and what really makes a better brand-creator partnership.
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Riccardo Fregoso, Chief Creative Officer, dentsu SEMENAT gives his input on the CEER campaign.
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One of the key themes of the festival, as Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, points out the need for continued investment in creative marketing. This reflects in the content itself which provides the data to support creativity contribute to the broader growth.
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Florian Root, Global Head of Business and Growth, dentsu Lab dives in how to innovate with purpose in a way that solves real problems within society through culture, but also drives brand and business outcomes.
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Through Day 3 at Cannes Lions, Campaign Middle East interviewed:
Taking home two back-to-back wins for their campaign Let It Fly, Saudi Airlines’ Vice President – Marketing Essam Akhonbay, shares takeaways for marketers back in region that move the needle.
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