FreeWheel returns to Cannes with AI and TV sessions
FreeWheel announced its return to Cannes Lions in 2026, detailing an agenda of content sessions focused on advertising advancements, the future of TV, and the application of AI in advertising technology. The event will feature discussions with executives from major media companies including Comcast Advertising, NBCUniversal, Fox Ad Sales, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Paramount Global, and Xumo. Topics include building new solutions on the FreeWheel ecosystem, TV leadership panels, AI's impact on media and advertising, and global media campaign execution.
Key Takeaways
- FreeWheel Beach will run Monday 22 June through Thursday 25 June 2026 at Plage Goéland on Boulevard de la Croisette.
- The agenda includes "Building What’s Next: The Developer Playbook" with Matt Adams, Stephane Bismuth, Joe Hirsch, John Hoctor, Ying Wang, and David Dworin.
- UK TV executives Karen Eccles, Rak Patel, Kelly Williams, and Lee Sears will join Thinkbox’s Lindsey Clay for "Televisionaries: The TV Leaders Panel."
- James Rooke will lead "Full Velocity: Winning at the Pace of AI," including panels with Comcast, Xfinity, NBCUniversal, Fox Ad Sales, Universal Ads, McKinsey & Company, and Paramount Skydance.
- NBCUniversal’s session features Seth Meyers and Colin Jost on comedy, plus a live "Virtual Reali-Tea" podcast taping with Lindsay Hubbard and Mia Calabrese.
Why It Matters
FreeWheel is using Cannes Lions 2026 to put ad tech, TV leadership, and AI planning in one place, with sessions spanning developer tools, premium video sales, and global campaign execution. The speaker list shows how closely Comcast Advertising, FreeWheel, Universal Ads, NBCUniversal, Fox Ad Sales, and major UK broadcasters are tied into the same industry conversation. The next signal to watch is the final speaker additions, which the site says are still “coming soon,” along with the July 22-25 access schedule and meeting-booking availability for delegates.
Read full article at freewheelcannes.com
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