What You’ll Gain from This MIPIM Cannes 2026 Guide
- Confirmed dates, venue details, and registration information for MIPIM 2026 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès
- Why MIPIM is considered the leading global real estate deal-making platform and who typically attends
- Key agenda highlights, including major summits and the MIPIM Awards
- Practical strategies to secure high-value meetings before schedules fill up
- Transportation and logistics advice for navigating Cannes during peak event days
- Best neighbourhoods to stay in for efficient access and smoother daily planning
Billed as one of the world’s biggest property and real estate events, MIPIM 2026 is happening in March at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes.
The event is known as the Davos of real estate and brings together the world’s leading developers, investors, and city administrators for high-stakes networking, investment opportunities, and shaping urban development strategies.
The MIPIM 2026 dates are from the 9th to the 13th of March this year. The event attracts institutional investors and sovereign funds responsible for multi-trillion-euro portfolios, making it a significant marketplace for cross-border capital allocation.
For professionals involved in real estate investment, development, or urban policy, MIPIM functions as one of the most concentrated deal-making environments in the industry. If you’re planning to attend, this guide covers dates, tickets, practical tips, event insights, logistics advice, and other key aspects.
What Is MIPIM Cannes And Why It Matters
MIPIM Cannes is the world’s premier annual real estate expo held every March at the Palais des Festivals. Established in 1990, it functions as the global platform for 20,000+ industry professionals, architects, city leaders, and investors from 90+ nations.
MIPIM is critical as it condenses months of investor meetings, capital allocation discussions, and partnership negotiations into four structured days. It is a meeting point where global capital meets major urban development projects, while keeping an eye on industry shifts and sustainability.
For experienced professionals, it represents an opportunity to define the skylines of future global cities, while first-timers benefit from access to major industry players managing an estimated €4 trillion and more in assets.
Alongside the main exhibition, high-level conferences, private investor dinners, and closed-door summits combine to make it a fulcrum of global real estate partnerships.
Who Should Attend MIPIM?
MIPIM Cannes 2026 is best suited to the following categories of stakeholders:
- Investors and financial institutions (pension and sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, REITs, and private equity firms)- identifying new investment opportunities across the residential, industrial, commercial, data centers, and hospitality segments.
- Real estate developers and operators/project managers- project showcases, finding development partners, construction sustainability insights
- Public sector and city leaders (urban planners, mayors, authorities)- attracting FDI, promoting urban regeneration initiatives, and policy discussions
- Real estate services and advisors (agents, consultants, lawyers, surveyors, brokers)- client networking, market insights, deal facilitation
- Architects, urban planners, and designers- showcasing sustainable designs and meeting potential developers
- Proptech and innovation leaders (tech companies and startups with AI, digital solutions, and data analytics)- demonstrating tools for asset management, enhancement, and decarbonization
- Sectoral leaders (hospitality, data centers, etc.)- specialized investment opportunities or deals in the sector
Who Is Attending MIPIM 2026?
As mentioned previously, the Cannes MIPIM edition for 2026 will attract 20,000+ attendees from more than 90 global countries. The attendee profile typically includes:
- CEOs of leading investment firms
- Heads of state and city planners
- Top-tier architects and designers
- Global institutional investors
- Sovereign wealth funds
- Leading developers
Key exhibiting sectors this year include institutional investors and asset managers like CBRE Global Investors, Blackstone, AXA 1M Alts, and more, seeking opportunities in data centers, logistics, and prime office spaces. There are City & Government delegations that will host Government Pavilions for foreign direct investment (FDI).
Major European cities like Paris, London, and Berlin maintain national or city pavilions to promote development pipelines. In addition, you can expect to see a growing presence of mega projects in the Middle East (UAE and Saudi Arabia).
There will also be returning delegations from Asian countries, along with a dedicated PropTech zone featuring tech companies and startups showcasing digital and AI-backed solutions for decarbonization and asset management.
Key Conferences & Agenda Highlights
Noting the MIPIM Cannes 2026 schedule is important to stay on top of the fast-paced schedule and crowded environment. Here are the key conference and agenda highlights:
- The Road to Zero Stage - It is a central sustainability hub with sessions on the financial and technical requirements for retrofitting ageing property stocks.
- The Re-Invest Summit (by invitation only) - Happening on Tuesday, it will be a closed-door summit that brings top-tier institutional players to debate on allocation strategies.
- The Asset Class Focus - There will be dedicated stages for exploring this year’s hottest sectors, like data centers, life sciences real estate, and the rapidly growing living segment (built-to-rent and senior housing).
- The MIPIM Awards 2026 - The concluding event takes place on Thursday evening at the Grand Auditorium. The jury this year is weighing entries that demonstrate their environmental and social impact side-by-side with architectural innovation.
How to Plan Your Schedule Strategically
MIPIM schedules are known to fill up before you even land in Cannes. So, making strategic and realistic planning is crucial to navigate the event smartly. Waiting until February can hamper your chances of securing high-value meetings.
Over-scheduling is common; realistic gaps between meetings help maintain punctuality. Here is a guide that may help:
- Pre-book priority meetings using LinkedIn, personal networks, and the official MIPIM delegate directory. High-profile meetings should be locked in at least 4-6 weeks before the event.
- Account for Croisette time, since walking between venues will take longer due to the traffic and crowds. Allow at least 30 minutes between meetings if you’re moving to a venue along the Croisette from the Palais.
- Be flexible. Avoid packing your calendar between 8 AM and 8 PM. Leave gaps of 30-45 minutes for impromptu or sudden meetings.
- Organize your day by location to minimize travel. For instance, try to book back-to-back meetings in the Palais before heading to lunch somewhere else.
- Anticipate last-minute changes where meetings may be rescheduled or events may run late. Sync your schedule with your phone and be ready to adapt accordingly.
- You can choose to stay near popular meeting sites in Cannes to better navigate your schedule.
- Designate specific and easy-to-find meeting points for ad-hoc meetings if you don’t have a stand.
Getting Around Cannes During MIPIM 2026
While Cannes may be geographically small, it’s a pedestrian-heavy city with significant vehicle pressure expected during MIPIM 2026. Here are some tips to get around smartly on your visit:
- Cannes is compact, and walking is often the fastest and best way to get around between the Palais, Croisette, and the train station.
- Driving or taking taxis into the city center at peak hours is not recommended. Cars may often be stuck in gridlocks near the Palais.
- Note that regular taxis or Ubers may be hard to find during the peak times (morning arrivals, 6-8 PM, lunch, etc.).
- If you’re staying outside Cannes (in places like Nice, Antibes, and others), the TER train may help you avoid the A8 traffic congestion.
- Parking near the Palais is not available during the course of the event.
- Allow additional buffer time between meetings to account for pedestrian congestion.
- Book a private chauffeur in advance if you are attending events outside the immediate city center.
- Use the Jetée Albert-Edouard entrance near the old port rather than the main Croisette one for quicker access to the outdoor pavilions and yachts.
- Use the free MIPIM Cannes shuttle service that operates from hotels just outside central Cannes to the Palais des Festivals.
- The My Cannes app or site will help you stay updated on the schedules and free PalmBus transport, if available (simply by flashing your QR code).
- Wear comfortable shoes since you will walk a lot at the event.
- Collect your badge on Monday or Sunday at the Gare Maritime to avoid long queues at the Palais.
Where to Stay During MIPIM Cannes 2026
Choosing accommodation smartly for the aforementioned MIPIM dates is essential. Where one stays in Cannes has a significant impact on daily schedules, with heavy foot traffic and packed schedules to account for.
- Around the Palais des Festivals/La Croisette- This area is best for delegates who want door-to-door convenience — many stands, stages, and evening receptions are within 5–15 minutes’ walk.
- Vieux Port- The Old Port is just next to the Palais and is coveted for its easy access to the yachts, which are often the best evening networking venues. You get a lively dining scene and quick access to the marinas.
- Rue d’Antibes (Central Cannes)- It is the area just behind the Croisette, which includes the famous Rue d’Antibes shopping street. It is just a 5-15-minute walk to reach the Palais, with plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants on the way. This area is also more tranquil than the beachfront.
- La Californie- This area is nestled in the hills, looking onto the bay. If you want a quieter and more residential environment after busy event days, it is an ideal option. Though it is a short 10-20 minute drive to the Palais.
Every neighborhood is essentially a great choice, but you need to prioritise your personal needs along with the MIPIM Cannes 2026 schedule. For the best experience, try to stay within proximity to the MIPIM venue.
Conclusion
For professionals active in the global real estate and urban development and investment space. MIPIM Cannes remains one of the most concentrated annual meeting platforms.
It is a meeting-driven, intense, and high-value event, offering opportunities to collaborate and network with leading global real estate stakeholders on one platform. If you follow this guide to do early registration and plan accommodation, you will reduce logistical friction during the event week.
FAQs
1. When and where is MIPIM 2026?
MIPIM 2026 takes place from 9–13 March 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
2. How do I register and get a badge for MIPIM 2026?
You can visit the official MIPIM website (https://www.mipim.com/en-gb/register.html) to buy your trade visitor badge (costs approximately €2,215, with early bird discounts also available). Exhibitors have to register via the stand managers of their companies.
3. Can anyone attend MIPIM, or is it industry-only?
It is primarily an industry-only event for professionals in related sectors. It is not a consumer or public trade show. Anyone with a connection to the sector may attend, provided they buy a pass.
4. How far in advance should I book accommodation for MIPIM 2026?
The ideal advance booking timeline is at least 6-9 months before the event, if not earlier. Many attendees secure accommodation immediately after the previous year’s event concludes as well.
5. Which neighbourhoods are best to stay in for easy access to the venue?
You can stay in Vieux Port, around the Palais des Festivals or La Croisette, and near the Rue d’Antibes for easy access to the MIPIM venue.
6. Is MIPIM worth visiting?
Yes, for industry stakeholders, investors, and developers, it is worth being at MIPIM for the high-stakes networking and deal-making opportunities, along with the biggest global conferences and discussions.
7. Are the MIPIM Awards part of the main event, and how do they work?
Yes, the awards are a key part of the main event in Cannes. The ceremony usually takes place on the Thursday evening of the event in the Grand Auditorium. The finalists are showcased in the dedicated Awards Gallery, and the ceremony stays open for all registered MIPIM delegates.
8. Is the venue accessible, and is special assistance available?
Yes, the venue is easily accessible with extensive special assistance for those with disabilities. The venue offers services for people with reduced mobility. There is priority access to the accreditation desk with a dedicated, adapted area. The venue has ramps, lifts, and guided solutions, while all pavilions and stands are PRM-accessible with ramps and raised flooring. It is the same for conference rooms, including the Grand Auditorium. The latter also has induction/hearing loops, while manual wheelchairs may be rented from the Pharmacie du Casino (opposite the Palais). For specific needs, attendees may contact staff in orange lanyards or call +33 6 17 47 55 15.
9. What is the dress code for MIPIM Cannes?
The dress code is usually smart-casual or business-professional in sync with the high-level conference and networking atmosphere. Professional-looking yet comfortable shoes are essential due to extensive walking, while layering is recommended for unpredictable weather conditions. Outfits should be suited to both daytime meetings and evening networking/events.
10. Who is the keynote speaker at MIPIM 2026?
The keynote speaker at the prestigious real estate event is Economist and Professor Philippe Aghion.
