Cannes Lions x Collins House
Amid the energy of Cannes Lions 2026, Collins House emerged as a sought-after destination where business, entertainment, and culture intersected. Set within Château Les Alouettes, the experience offered attendees an intimate setting for thoughtful conversations, exclusive programming, and genuine connection away from the bustle of La Croisette.
Over five days, the château hosted a curated series of speaking sessions and performances featuring influential leaders across business and entertainment. Standout moments included a viral conversation between Keke Palmer and will.i.am, sessions featuring executives from OpenAI, Coinbase, Chipotle, Cutwater, Amazon, the United Nations Foundation and Gap Inc., and an impromptu performance by Seal.
Beyond the stage, guests were treated to sponsor breakfasts, lunches and poolside rosé receptions. Three private Taverna dinners, created in conjunction with World Central Kitchen in the château’s garden created exclusive opportunities for guests to continue conversations in a relaxed, elegant atmosphere. More than 1,000 attendees visited Collins House throughout the week, making it a vibrant hub for conversation and connection during the festival.
Working in close collaboration with Collins, LCS, VAST and other partners, our team led production, technical execution, stage program management, talent production, sponsor activations and guest logistics, ensuring each experience unfolded with precision while preserving the intimate atmosphere that defined Collins House.
The result was a thoughtfully produced environment that elevated every conversation and gave influential Cannes Lions attendees a memorable place to connect during one of the creative industry's most influential weeks.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
