Loading...

Four key themes from Cannes Lions 2023

by Hayley Schneider 7 min read June 28, 2023

Cannes Lions 2023 marina

It’s been one week since the highly anticipated Cannes Lions 2023 – the event of the year for advertising and creativity. We’re thrilled to share our top four key takeaways from the event, showcasing what the industry will prioritize in the upcoming year.

Signal loss

At Cannes Lions 2023, experts underlined the detrimental effects of signal loss on advertising and emphasized the significance of having diverse channels. Discussions emphasized the importance of adapting paid media strategies to align with evolving consumer behaviors in order to remain relevant in the ever-changing landscape.

Urgency in planning and avoiding being caught without a solid strategy was a common theme throughout the event. Alternative identifiers, like first-party data, were highlighted, as they prioritize privacy-centric approaches. Contextual advertising emerged as a key part of the solution, providing relevant ads that fit seamlessly into the user’s experience.

Collaboration

Collaboration was a major theme at Cannes Lions 2023. Attendees explored topics such as maintaining privacy and identifying the right attributes for effective targeting. Clean rooms were discussed as a way to ensure privacy when sharing data, and highlighted partnerships as the key to unlocking interoperability within the advertising ecosystem. The discussions underscored the need for industry players to join forces and collaborate on solutions that benefit all stakeholders in the ecosystem.

“What makes Cannes unique is that you have a lot of decision makers in the room at the same time. This leads to more efficiency in terms of coming up with goals and objectives and really getting to the heart of the key aspects for us to build partnerships.”

alison omealia, vp, customer success, experian

Personalization

Personalization was a key topic of discussion at Cannes Lions 2023, with its growing significance in advertising taking center stage. The event emphasized the need to focus on serving up tailored content that resonates with individual consumers, cultivating brand affinity.

The intersection of science and art was highlighted, emphasizing the role of data-driven insights and creativity in supporting frequency capping and delivering engaging content.

Advertisers are adapting to cookie deprecation by shifting from cookie-based third-party targeting to first-party data solutions. This is due to the significant changes in the consumer privacy landscape, which have limited advertisers’ access to signals emitted by consumers through their devices and browsers. As a result, alternative IDs like UID2, Ramp ID, and ID5 are emerging as viable options for advertisers to continue personalized targeting.

Balancing AI and creativity at Cannes Lions 2023

Participants shared invaluable insights on how to strike the right balance between harnessing AI’s capabilities and nurturing creativity to keep the human touch alive. The event emphasized the importance of understanding the boundaries of AI while utilizing tools that drive innovation and imagination. Attendees explored the dynamic roles that AI provides and discussed how it can help push the boundaries of their creativity while still keeping the human element intact.

As technology continues to advance, so does the need for advertisers to adapt their approach and integrate AI in a way that enhances their creative output.

Experian events at Cannes Lions 2023

We hosted a series of events that included a kick-off event and four panels. The activities were designed to provide attendees with valuable insights on various topics related to advertising and data privacy. Here’s a recap of what we covered during the week.

Experian’s Cannes Lions kick-off event

We co-hosted a kick-off event on Sunday with Audigent. It was a successful event that brought people together to launch an important week in the AdTech industry and build connections with clients and prospects alike.

Cannes Lions 2023 kick-off event

Data on the sell-side

Ongoing signal loss has marketers, agencies, and platforms tapping directly into the sell-side for high-quality audience and context. In this panel, industry experts from Truthset, Captify, Audigent, Newsweek, and PubMatic joined Experian to discuss the imminent disappearance of cookies and the need to adapt and future-proof data privacy strategies. The deprecation of third-party cookies presents an incredible opportunity to redefine data privacy practices and empower consumers.

Cannes Lions 2023 panelists: Data on the sell-side

Our panelists emphasized the need to adapt and invest in alternative identifiers in order to thrive in a cookie-less future. Publishers were urged to create valuable content, engage in first-party activities, and consider the next generation of consumers who are growing up without traditional identifiers. The fragmented landscape calls for a variety of tactics and partnerships, while AI can provide opportunities to explore beyond deterministic identifiers, fostering creativity and innovation in advertising practices.

Stacking the marketer’s toolbox for success

In partnership with Adweek Abroad in Cannes, industry leaders from FreeWheel, Tubi, and Instacart joined Experian to discuss opportunities for brands to unlock deeper, richer, and more scalable insights into current and potential customers.

The panelists highlighted several key considerations, including building a robust first-party data strategy, ensuring accuracy in data quality partnerships, and establishing better-connected communications and relationships with consumers.

Cannes Lions 2023 panelists: Stacking the marketer's toolbox for success

Participants acknowledged the value of consumer data and urged advertisers to remain purpose-driven, always putting the viewer first. The freshness and recency of data were identified as critical factors for establishing quality connections with consumers and staying attuned to consumer trends.

What does the future of identity hold?

During this panel discussion, industry leaders from the IAB, MiQ, Cint, Direct Digital Holdings, and Tatari joined Experian to explore the future of identity.

Cannes Lions 2023 panelists: What does the future of identity hold?

The panelists discussed the challenges cookie deprecation poses in programmatic advertising and the need for new identifiers and solutions. They also acknowledged the expanding media landscape and the importance of frequency capping and attribution measurement in a post-cookie era. Trends to watch for include the potential consolidation of identifiers and the movement of first-party data in-house by larger media companies. Panelists shared different views on cookie deprecation readiness and the overhype of AI in the industry.

Streaming takes center stage

Cannes Lions 2023 panelists: Streaming takes center stage

OMG, Roku, AMC Networks, Paramount, and Disney joined Experian to discuss streaming TV as a fragmented and evolving landscape. The panelists debated whether it has become a performance channel and emphasized the need for client education, attribution, and optimizing performance metrics. They also discussed reaching audiences across different mediums with data interoperability, audience targeting, and reliable identity solutions. The panelists explored the emerging trend of AI, optimizing ad placement, refining targeting, streamlining creative approval, and enhancing ad breaks.

“A lot of trends in AdTech are relevant to TV, but the most consistent trend has definitely been having a solid identity source throughout the whole lifecycle of a campaign within TV.”

ali mack, sr. director, platforms, experian

Let’s keep the conversation going

The innovation and possibilities for signal loss, collaboration, personalization, and balancing AI and creativity are limitless, but understanding exactly how to get there is what can make all the difference.

As we wrap up another successful week at Cannes Lions, let’s use these conversations as an opportunity to advance together toward a more connected future — what trends are you most looking forward to? If you’d like to discuss any of these topics further, get in touch with us!

Check out more Cannes content:

Follow us on LinkedIn or sign up for our email newsletter for more informative content on the latest industry insights and data-driven marketing.


Latest posts

Loading…
New Post Image Test

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur vel dolor quis elit vestibulum bibendum eu in mi. Maecenas bibendum tristique lacus, sit amet tincidunt tellus dictum et. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Maecenas vel diam lacinia magna efficitur congue. Aliquam tempus, lectus nec ultrices sagittis, purus ipsum imperdiet felis, ac gravida enim massa vel augue. Quisque non neque at augue volutpat sodales nec eget ipsum. In sed consectetur odio, ut tincidunt ipsum. Sed non pellentesque nulla, non iaculis mauris. Etiam faucibus sit amet mauris eu efficitur. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer sed blandit metus, at finibus ligula. Ut non rhoncus lacus. Nulla mattis est quis cursus laoreet. Nullam porta odio eu tortor consequat vulputate. Suspendisse nec massa ac neque ultrices eleifend. Integer porta tristique tempus. Nulla aliquet, erat tincidunt imperdiet vehicula, urna tortor molestie nulla, ut porttitor erat erat ac nunc. Nulla facilisi. Etiam a tellus in lectus vulputate maximus vitae eu nisl. Fusce eget libero non ipsum pellentesque egestas. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla ut metus sapien. Maecenas aliquam libero et ipsum eleifend, et maximus felis sagittis. Donec id massa et massa molestie varius. Quisque dignissim placerat augue vel mollis. Mauris accumsan, mi vel elementum suscipit, eros elit malesuada justo, ut tempor mi nunc quis tortor. Nullam ut laoreet mi. Nam euismod lectus id dictum consectetur. Praesent quis lacinia ipsum. Donec lobortis massa in erat interdum, consectetur consectetur purus posuere. Nullam feugiat, erat non hendrerit rutrum, velit ante rhoncus nibh, ac laoreet felis ante ac mauris. Etiam ex erat, vulputate vel nulla non, placerat dictum tellus. Praesent orci lacus, dictum in vestibulum non, semper ut tortor. Nullam vitae ornare ipsum, a cursus quam. Vivamus vitae vulputate lorem, ac scelerisque lectus. Fusce at lacus non enim fringilla consequat. Sed laoreet mi eget vulputate auctor. Proin placerat tempor nunc vel mollis. Ut quis mi ut lorem ultrices hendrerit nec vehicula felis. Vestibulum tempus sapien vel porta aliquet. Phasellus quis auctor augue. Morbi nec tellus in massa venenatis ornare. Vivamus eleifend lacus lacus. Suspendisse ac commodo orci, vel fringilla turpis. Proin enim turpis, egestas quis nulla a, ultrices volutpat massa. Nam luctus sapien odio, ac blandit ante accumsan et. Nunc luctus ligula odio, ac faucibus urna rutrum vitae. Donec eu lorem gravida nisi pretium consectetur. Morbi vel mauris non odio iaculis aliquam sed nec leo. Vestibulum sed libero quis ante hendrerit porttitor eget eu orci. Morbi est arcu, maximus eu lobortis sit amet, suscipit et felis. Morbi sodales mattis pretium. Curabitur sodales porttitor eros vitae efficitur. Nam id turpis tristique, aliquam sapien ac, convallis mi. Sed risus sapien, dapibus euismod mauris vitae, fringilla vulputate augue. Morbi efficitur, ex vitae semper mattis, tellus sem luctus lorem, eget viverra metus nibh eu neque. In eu orci est.

Published: Mar 13, 2026 by Andy Monte

Shortcode and FAQ Block Test

YouTube Embed Yoast FAQ Block FAQ Question #1 FAQ Answer #1 FAQ Question #2 FAQ Answer #2 FAQ Question #3 FAQ Answer #3 CTA Embed Button Test InfoGram Embed

Published: Mar 02, 2026 by Andy Monte

FAQ Test

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam vitae nibh eu massa cursus eleifend quis in quam. Nunc mollis aliquam eros sed laoreet. Suspendisse et elit ut metus elementum aliquet ut sit amet metus. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Pellentesque fringilla, nibh eget convallis scelerisque, nisl nisl vestibulum ipsum, sit amet placerat neque nunc eget nisi. Cras cursus, sapien non interdum mollis, nibh augue efficitur eros, eget congue tellus nulla id lectus. Nullam vestibulum vitae erat sit amet mollis. Sed gravida tortor nec nibh blandit ultrices. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam justo lectus, tempus a velit at, tempus malesuada est. Aenean dictum tellus id lorem venenatis, quis sodales nisl tempus. In quis libero id est rhoncus dictum. Praesent ipsum dui, mattis vel augue ut, lacinia ultricies ex. Suspendisse sit amet gravida purus. Vivamus tempus tellus augue, ac placerat arcu efficitur non. Nam auctor at nulla sed porta. Vivamus lobortis eu nunc a efficitur. Vestibulum condimentum ante nec nisi imperdiet vulputate. Duis varius metus ac est fermentum congue. Aenean tincidunt ut erat non pharetra. Nulla elit orci, semper sed porttitor ac, convallis vitae velit. Praesent egestas blandit ullamcorper. Praesent a porta lectus. Aliquam et pellentesque lectus. Integer placerat mauris risus, ut semper dui commodo at. Vivamus efficitur pharetra ligula id rhoncus. Pellentesque gravida purus vitae viverra luctus. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; In vitae augue nec odio fermentum ultrices a sed libero. Nulla ullamcorper nulla id sagittis convallis. Pellentesque cursus metus et orci iaculis, non laoreet nisi aliquam. Proin porta velit risus, ac ultricies lectus tincidunt at. Pellentesque scelerisque ullamcorper euismod. Phasellus eget velit malesuada, faucibus enim a, ultrices ante. Morbi ut diam non metus interdum placerat gravida quis arcu. Integer ultricies molestie nulla sed convallis. Curabitur mi dui, aliquam vel nibh rutrum, convallis tempor lacus. Cras porttitor laoreet varius. Ut tincidunt massa congue mauris lobortis euismod. Pellentesque a odio ut est consequat tristique ut in mi. Nullam sed ultricies justo, eu varius eros. Nunc ipsum nulla, vehicula at sagittis a, ornare ut nisi. Aenean imperdiet felis at aliquet porta. Nunc sed leo ut justo efficitur aliquet. Sed et urna vel urna maximus laoreet. In facilisis porttitor nisi in sagittis. Fusce magna sapien, molestie ac maximus eu, tincidunt sit amet massa. Praesent non mauris metus. Aliquam dapibus sit amet tortor at scelerisque. Ut vel dolor at nisi rhoncus finibus auctor non velit. Integer pellentesque venenatis diam, nec eleifend ipsum pellentesque quis. Vivamus vitae mi nisl. Curabitur lectus orci, ornare et ipsum venenatis, sagittis blandit mauris. FAQs Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam vitae nibh eu massa cursus eleifend quis in quam. Nunc mollis aliquam eros sed laoreet. Suspendisse et elit ut metus elementum aliquet ut sit amet metus. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Pellentesque fringilla, nibh eget convallis scelerisque, nisl nisl vestibulum ipsum, sit amet placerat neque nunc eget nisi. Cras cursus, sapien non interdum mollis, nibh augue efficitur eros, eget congue tellus nulla id lectus. Nullam vestibulum vitae erat sit amet mollis. Sed gravida tortor nec nibh blandit ultrices. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam justo lectus, tempus a velit at, tempus malesuada est. Aenean dictum tellus id lorem venenatis, quis sodales nisl tempus. In quis libero id est rhoncus dictum. Praesent ipsum dui, mattis vel augue ut, lacinia ultricies ex. Suspendisse sit amet gravida purus. Vivamus tempus tellus augue, ac placerat arcu efficitur non. Nam auctor at nulla sed porta. Vivamus lobortis eu nunc a efficitur. Vestibulum condimentum ante nec nisi imperdiet vulputate. Duis varius metus ac est fermentum congue. Aenean tincidunt ut erat non pharetra. Nulla elit orci, semper sed porttitor ac, convallis vitae velit. Praesent egestas blandit ullamcorper. Praesent a porta lectus. Aliquam et pellentesque lectus. Integer placerat mauris risus, ut semper dui commodo at. Vivamus efficitur pharetra ligula id rhoncus. Pellentesque gravida purus vitae viverra luctus. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; In vitae augue nec odio fermentum ultrices a sed libero. Nulla ullamcorper nulla id sagittis convallis.

Published: Feb 20, 2026 by Andy Monte

Subscribe to our newsletter

Enter your name and email for the latest updates

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

About Experian Marketing Services

At Experian Marketing Services, we use data and insights to help brands have more meaningful interactions with people. As leaders in the evolution of the advertising landscape, Experian Marketing Services can help you identify your customers and the right potential customers, uncover the most appropriate communication channels, develop messages that resonate, and measure the effectiveness of marketing activities and campaigns.

Visit our website

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest industry news and receive expert tips from our marketing experts.
Subscribe now!