Inside the Cannes Lions party scene — yachts, A-listers, and gallons of rosé

When the sun sets on the French Riviera for the day, the Cannes Lions revelers come out to play.

The Cannes party scene has become the proxy battleground for influence, budgets, and status.

Spotify's enormous beach structure is situated at the center of the action. The music streamer's soirées resembled a festival lineup: Mumford & Sons, Mike D, Central Cee, RAYE, Lykke Li, and John Summit.

Not to be outdone, the huge stage at the Amazon Port hosted indie rockers The xx for a Tuesday night performance.

Yahoo had lines snaking up the promenade all night long with partygoers hoping to get into the vastly oversubscribed Tiësto concert.

Throughout the week, there were dozens more intimate shindigs up and down the Croisette, and nightclub ragers that went well into the wee hours.

"The parties are for clout, to some degree, but also relationship-building," Chris Harihar, EVP at the marketing agency Mod Op, told me. "You spend time with clients, partners, and prospects, and the hope is they like you more and want to work with you more. Just don't drink too much rosé."

Zack Dugow, CEO of adtech firm The COOL Company, hosted a table at the raucous Bâoli nightclub, where the purchasing of magnums of Champagne — starting at roughly €1,000, or around $1,136, during Lions week — triggers a parade of dancers, giant sparklers, and flags. This happened several times, Business Insider can confirm.

Dugow told me that Cannes does human connection better than any other conference.

"Somewhere around midnight, and especially at 2 a.m. at Bâoli, the conversation shifts," he said. "You stop talking about work and start talking about life, family, goals, and the things that actually matter. That's when relationships become real."

The adtech company Cognitiv hosts an annual "Pink Party" on its yacht, where attendees — you guessed it — wear pink. It also held a Pride Party, in partnership with the LGBTQ+ organization Do the WeRQ and other industry partners at the 3CV Beach.

"These events are not just brand moments. They're catalysts for conversations, relationships, and impact that outlast the week itself," Cognitiv CEO Jeremy Fain told me.

"For young professionals, it's one of the best networking opportunities in the world," Fain said of the Cannes party scene. "For industry leaders, it's a rare chance to reconnect with the people shaping the future of marketing, all in one place."

And beyond the case for partying as a business strategy, there's also a simpler truth: Sometimes it's just fun to let loose.

Check out the photos from some of the best Cannes Lions 2026 parties below.