The annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity once again blurred the lines between advertising, entertainment and popular culture as an impressive lineup of celebrities descended on the French Riviera throughout the week.
From television hosts and reality stars to musicians, athletes and business leaders, high-profile guests filled hotels, beach clubs and exclusive parties while attending festival events and private gatherings. The festival, held from June 22 to 26, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading celebrations of creativity and marketing, attracting brands, agencies and influential public figures from around the globe.
Famous Faces Across Cannes and St. Tropez
Among the week’s notable sightings, late-night host Seth Meyers, comedian Colin Jost and broadcaster Hoda Kotb were reportedly on the same Delta flight departing Cannes. Upon arrival, Kotb took time to greet fans and pose for photographs while waiting for her luggage.
Reality television personality Kyle Cooke was frequently seen throughout the festival. In addition to appearing at several Cannes events, he was later spotted enjoying lunch at LouLou in nearby St. Tropez, where fans approached him for photos.
Music producer Diplo was also seen moving along the Croisette during the festival, while fashion entrepreneur Meredith Marks and her daughter Chloe attended a Mumford & Sons performance at Spotify Beach.
Cooke and fellow reality star Lindsay Hubbard were among the guests watching DJ Tiësto’s Cannes Lions performance. Earlier, Hubbard had shared that the Dutch DJ had personally invited her to attend the concert through Instagram.
Athletes Join the Festival Atmosphere
Sports figures were equally visible during the week.
Former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez was seen dining at Luigi’s piano bar, where staff playfully played music by his former fiancée Jennifer Lopez during his visit. Earlier in the day, Rodriguez was spotted navigating the streets near Cannes’ train station while checking directions on his phone.
NBA legends Magic Johnson and Carmelo Anthony also made appearances. Johnson, who had been vacationing on the French Riviera, received a public shoutout from rapper Ludacris during a party hosted by UTA and MediaLink at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Anthony, alongside business partner Asani Swann, participated in a dinner hosted by Bilt and Publicis, where they introduced a wine pairing featuring their global wine label.
Kevin Durant was also spotted socializing at the Carlton Hotel, while Olympic snowboarder Shaun White dined with a group that appeared to include fellow athletes.
Entertainment Industry Gatherings Continue
The festival schedule featured numerous invitation-only events where celebrities mixed with executives and creators.
Questlove stopped to take photographs with fans before appearing on an iHeart panel, while Rachel Zoe attended Spotify Beach looking glamorous after arriving separately from fellow guests Kyle Cooke and Lindsay Hubbard.
Elsewhere, Maura Higgins drew attention by staging an impromptu photo shoot outside the Carlton Hotel, one of the festival’s busiest gathering spots.
Monday’s festivities included UTA Beach Day, where attendees included will.i.am, Paris Hilton, “The Home Edit” founders Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer, influencer Kate Bartlett and MrBeast CEO Jeffrey Housenbold.
Netflix’s Fan Club rooftop party also attracted reality television personalities Layla Taylor and Jeremiah Brown, while dinner hotspot La Môme welcomed Lindsay Hubbard, Kyle Cooke, Meredith Marks, Christina Milian and Eva Longoria, with Longoria and Milian sharing a warm greeting before departing.
Late-night celebrations continued at La Fama restaurant, where former MSNBC president Rashida Jones and Unik Ernest helped transform the venue into a lively party attended by Flavor Flav, Jermaine Dupri, Janelle Monáe and Kevin Durant.
Cannes Lions Continues to Blend Business and Entertainment
Although Cannes Lions remains focused on creativity, advertising and media innovation, the festival has increasingly become one of the industry’s most influential networking destinations, attracting celebrities whose work extends across entertainment, sports, technology and business.
The combination of conference programming, brand activations, concerts and exclusive evening events has made the gathering a fixture on the global celebrity calendar. Additional events during the week included high-profile receptions hosted by media organizations and brands, with figures such as Eva Longoria, Rachel Zoe, Kyle Cooke and Maura Higgins among attendees at exclusive celebrations surrounding the festival.
As Cannes Lions wrapped up another successful edition, its mix of industry discussions and celebrity appearances reinforced the festival’s reputation as a meeting place where marketing, entertainment and culture increasingly intersect.
