Cannes’ Marché du Film is set to reinforce its position as a key driver of innovation in the global film industry with an expanded programme for its 2026 edition, running from 12-20 May. Building on its established initiatives, this year’s market places a strong emphasis on hands-on experiences and more efficient business opportunities, while exploring how emerging technologies and new creative ecosystems are reshaping production, distribution and audience engagement.

At the centre of this strategy is the continued development of Cannes Next and its Village Innovation, which will once again serve as the main hub for the market’s forward-looking activities. Located on the Pantiero side of the Village International, the space will cover over 1,000 m² and feature an enhanced setup, including the largest virtual production stage ever presented at a film market. The programme will combine hands-on demonstrations, conferences and networking opportunities, alongside dedicated office spaces for tech companies and startups, underlining the Marché’s ambition to foster direct exchanges between the film and technology sectors.

The Marché will also expand its focus on artificial intelligence through the second edition of the AI for Talent Summit. Scheduled to take place over two mornings, the invitation-only event will gather high-level executives from both the film and tech industries to explore practical applications of AI across creative and business processes. Discussions will revolve around the integration of AI into production workflows, the ethical and responsible use of AI, and education, with a view to providing participants with concrete, applicable insights.

Immersive storytelling will take a significant step forward with the expansion of the Immersive Market, hosted at the Carlton Hotel alongside the Cannes Film Festival’s Immersive Competition. Positioned as the first competition of its kind at a major international festival dedicated to shared audience experiences, the initiative introduces a newly designed 450 m² venue capable of hosting between 80 and 225 participants simultaneously. The space will present works in rotation across a wide range of formats, from cutting-edge VR experiences to large-scale video mapping.

Running in parallel with the 11-day competition, the Immersive Market will bring together around 150 producers and catalogue holders, offering live demonstrations to approximately 90 leading distributors and curators, alongside pitching sessions, curated networking events and targeted business opportunities. The initiative reflects a broader effort to position Cannes as a central and efficient marketplace for location-based immersive distribution.

Further expanding its digital focus, the Marché will also introduce its first Creator Economy Summit, exploring the intersections between traditional cinema and digital creator ecosystems. As content creators increasingly move into long-form storytelling and film production, the programme will examine how digital intellectual property can be adapted into cinematic projects, how emerging talent can be identified across platforms, and how creator-driven communities can be mobilised to engage audiences and drive them to theatres. The discussions will also address evolving marketing strategies shaped by these new dynamics.

In addition, the Marché du Film will roll out a revamped online platform powered by Cinando, which was relaunched earlier this year with enhanced tools and features. Fully integrating the Marché du Film Online into its rebuilt system, the platform will offer a unified “market environment” combining screenings, conference content and networking tools, aiming to streamline interactions between sales agents, buyers and industry professionals worldwide.

“We advocate innovation that serves both artistic creativity and the growth of the industry as a whole,” said executive director Guillaume Esmiol. “At the Marché, we are dedicated to supporting and driving innovation, from technological advances that reshape how films are conceived, produced and distributed to a broader mindset that reimagines business models, partnerships and relationships.”

Together with various newly introduced and expanded initiatives, the Marché du Film’s 2026 edition underlines its ongoing commitment to bridging creativity, technology and industry, positioning Cannes as a central hub for both experimentation and international film circulation.