More Opinion articles

Kindness is not about being nice. It is about caring enough to be direct, honest and committed to everyone’s professional growth.

The platforms have taken the Croisette, the beaches keep changing hands and the AI companies are arriving in force. We asked senior figures across brand, agency, media and adtech who the festival is really for in 2026, and what that says about where the business is heading.

Are we, in our quest for standardised processes and automated solutions, sacrificing the very strategic, bespoke thinking that defines truly impactful media planning? asks Caroline Manning.

The most interesting conversations won’t be about the latest AI tools, but about a consolidation cycle already taking shape, driven by three simultaneous forces – AI compression, changing client demands, and a generational shift in agency ownership.

From a local to a global level, trust in news is in decline. The impact may be felt all the way to 10 Downing Street, writes Ray Snoddy. 

This Cannes will be a celebration of independent agencies, but let’s not forget we need independent technology too, writes MINT Square’s CEO. 

Cannes can be glamorous, exhausting and deceptively hard work. We asked regulars, veterans and one first-timer for the no-nonsense version. What to do, what to avoid, and how to come home with something to show for the trip.

There’s a level beyond reach, one where brands create a genuine connection that people remember and welcome. It takes more effort and more creative risk, but it’s worth it.

Propeller’s comprehensive list of parties and events at Cannes Lions is both a must-have social tool and an historical barometer of trends and shifting sands, writes its creator, Ben Titchmarsh. 

The social media under-16 ban is a moment for accountability – but regulation alone won’t fix the problem, says Bauer’s Simon Kilby.