MIPCOM CANNES launches AI Entertainment Forum for 2026 global media market

PARIS –  Lights, camera, algorithm. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the entertainment business, MIPCOM CANNES 2026 is bringing that transformation into sharper focus with the launch of the new MIP AI Entertainment Forum.

Set to debut during this year’s event from 12 to 15 October in Cannes, the new forum aims to put AI firmly at the centre of the global content conversation, connecting technology innovators with studios, streamers, producers, creators, brands and intellectual property owners.

The move reflects a growing industry shift. As broadcasters and content companies race to understand how AI will influence everything from storytelling to monetisation, MIPCOM is positioning itself as a meeting ground for both creative ambition and commercial deal-making. Leading the first wave of partners are Versos AI as headline partner and Protege as official partner. The exhibition floor will also feature companies including HappyClient, Lingopal.AI, LoglineAI and Massif Network, with more names expected to follow.

According to MIPCOM CANNES 2026 director Lucy Smith, the current AI moment is far more than a gradual technological shift. She described it as a “fundamental rewiring” of how content will be created, financed, distributed and monetised globally over the next decade.

That ambition is reflected in the forum’s agenda, which is built around three core themes.

The first is creation and storytelling, exploring how generative AI is unlocking new creative tools, faster development cycles and entirely new content formats, particularly for creator-led and platform-native audiences. Next comes production and workflow, where AI is already making its mark through dubbing, subtitling, metadata automation, localisation and virtual production, helping companies reduce costs and speed up delivery. The third pillar, licensing and distribution, focuses on how media businesses can monetise archives, improve discoverability and unlock new audience engagement strategies through AI-powered systems.

The forum also forms part of a broader strategic expansion for MIPCOM CANNES 2026, following the recent launch of MIP BrandWorks and a wider push into the creator economy. Taken together, those moves signal a bigger ambition: transforming MIPCOM from a traditional television marketplace into a broader global content hub where media, technology and culture increasingly overlap.

In short, the message from Cannes is clear: AI is no longer knocking at the entertainment industry’s door. It has officially been invited in.