The slight decline in attendance and the number of countries represented is not seen as a setback by organizers, who are emphasizing the event’s ability to evolve alongside the industry while looking toward a more interconnected future for their markets throughout the year.
By Carolina Mussio, with reporting by Ana Paula Carreira from Cannes, France
Mipcom Cannes 2026 held its third day today at the Palais des Festivals — the last for most attendees — with a noticeable decline in the usual bustle of the corridors, signaling an early end to this year’s edition.
This was also reflected in the event’s official figures, revealed by Lucy Smith, Director of RX France’s Entertainment Division, during her traditional closing press conference, which showed a slight decrease in attendance compared to 2025.
Mipcom Cannes 2026 welcomed a total of 10,100 delegates — 500 fewer than last year — including 3,550 buyers, down 150, from 104 countries, compared to 107 in 2025. MipJunior, meanwhile, attracted 600 participants, compared to 700 the previous year.
Despite the somewhat unfavorable figures, Smith emphasized the importance of renewing the market in terms of its focus and its ability to adapt to changes in the industry.
“What is clear is that the industry is going through a period of disruption and a reshaping of the traditional landscape. Digital platforms and creators are becoming key players. Vertical content, microdramas and AI are changing the way content is produced. And that disruption is evident here in Cannes,” she explained.
“Our strategy is to strengthen Mipcom as the leading content market. We’re not moving away from our core business; we’re expanding it in four ways: through brands, AI, vertical content and creators, opening up new business opportunities and sources of IP.”
“Looking ahead to the next edition of Mipcancún, we’re approaching our traditional business with a fresh perspective, giving it the same attention as always while creating new opportunities. The goal is not to reinvent ourselves, but to represent the industry as it is today. Our ambition is to create a more connected ecosystem, bringing together Mipcom, Mipcancún and Mip Talks,” she added.
The next edition of Mipcancún will take place in Mexico from November 17 to 20.
The Latest Announcements and Events on Mipcom’s Third Day
One of the day’s highlights was Globo receiving the Mipcom 2026 SDG Impact Recognition, presented in collaboration with the United Nations, capping off a highly positive edition for the Brazilian media giant, which kicked off its activities with a major showcase on Sunday.
Among the announcements involving renewals, adaptations and partnerships, the return of Avenida Brasil with a new installment stood out. “The day Globo announced that we were going to have Avenida Brasil 2, my phone exploded with messages from international clients who had immediately heard the news. It was incredible,” recalled Pablo Ghiglione, Head of International Sales and Co-productions for the Americas and Asia-Pacific at Globo. “We’re already negotiating in several markets and will have news to share soon. It will certainly be well before the telenovela premieres, because interest is so high. That makes us very happy, and we’re eager to begin working on its distribution.”
Representing the Spanish-speaking market in Cannes, Krakatoa and its sister company Spiritum Entertainment continue to expand the Plim Plim brand internationally while promoting their latest addition, Bumpy. “We’re at the Audiovisual From Spain stand at Mipcom, presenting all our upcoming projects, including the new Plim Plim series and new Bumpy content, which joins the entire universe of content from Spiritum and Krakatoa,” said Cindy Fernández, Licensing Manager for Plim Plim and Bumpy at the group.
Another well-known brand from Argentina, El Reino Infantil, is expanding one of its flagship franchises with the start of production on La Granja de Zenón: The Movie, scheduled for theatrical release in mid-2028. The announcement was made by company CEO Felipe de Stefani during Mipcom, where the company has been holding an intensive schedule of meetings with potential partners to develop new international business. “We’re here at Mipcom in Cannes taking the opportunity to make some important announcements, such as the start of production on our La Granja de Zenón movie, which will be available in theaters in mid-2028,” the executive said.
Also in the children’s content sector, TwelveP Animation presented a diverse catalog of animated series and feature films, led by Tin, Baby Fluffs and Goal!. “Tin combines an exciting cyberpunk universe with a story about individuality, courage and the importance of staying true to yourself, themes that really resonate with teenage audiences,” explained Margarita Shvets, Head of YouTube and Marketing at TwelveP Animation.
Meanwhile, Animotion Media Group with a catalog of more than ten children’s and family IPs, alongside new projects in development and a strategy focused on extending its established franchises into different genres, formats and digital platforms. “We brought a large catalog of kids’ and family IPs, with more than ten properties, as well as several projects in development. We also brought a live-action format based on one of our flagship properties,” said Julia Nikolaeva, General Manager of Animotion Media Group.
Spanish companies also arrived on the French Riviera with extensive scripted catalogs, including the comedy Se tiene que morir mucha gente, the crime drama El castillo and the thriller Matar a un oso, all presented by Movistar Plus. “We’re very happy to bring several titles that are performing very well on our platform,” said Rebeca Aguilar, Head of International Distribution at Movistar Plus.
Other highlights included Marusía: Naval Academy and Olivia, distributed by Mediterráneo Mediaset and represented at Mipcom by Silvia Cotino, recently appointed Director of Sales, Distribution and Fiction at Mediterráneo Mediaset. “I’m very grateful for the trust placed in me by my managers and for the support of a wonderful team. It’s a very young team, and we’re all working in the same direction to give the Mediterráneo and Mediaset brands, and the group’s content, the greatest possible visibility worldwide,” the executive said.
Turkish drama also had its place on the third day, with ATV Distribution anticipating new sales for its two major titles showcased during the event, Land of the Sun and Different Lives. Both series made an impression in Cannes, with their stars participating in presentations, interviews and the traditional gala dinner. According to Müge Akar, ATV’s Group Head of Sales and Distribution, Different Lives is already available in 32 countries.
GoQuest Media, meanwhile, presented Arafta and Kuma, two of its main Turkish drama offerings, alongside a strategy aimed at expanding its production capacity and direct monetization on digital platforms.
In international sales, Beta Film announced deals for its Korean dramas Snow White Must Die and Skam Korea – Fragile: Italy’s Rai and Greece’s ERT acquired the former, while MBC Shahid picked up both titles for the MENA region. Cineflix Rights closed deals for four factual productions, including Deep Water Secrets and The Emily Michelle Project, with buyers in Europe, Canada and Oceania. Meanwhile, Portugal’s APIT and Brazil’s BRAVI renewed and expanded their cooperation agreement for another two years, focusing on coproduction, training and international promotion. ORF-Enterprise also announced the acquisition of worldwide distribution rights to Crème de la Crème, a Finnish comedy-drama produced by Whatever Pictures for Yle.
Thus concludes the third day of Mipcom 2026 at the Palais des Festivals, which will officially close its doors tomorrow, Thursday, leaving behind an edition that sought to innovate by welcoming new players and initiatives, while opening up opportunities to rethink strategies for the event’s future.
