Cannes Lions buys VidCon, ends 15-year Anaheim run
What's the deal? Cannes LionsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired creator fan convention VidConDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to form VidCon x Lions Creators, the companies announced in September. Terms were not disclosed. As part of the deal, VidCon will leave Anaheim after 15 years.
What's the endgame? The combined event's primary home will be the Insight to Impact Festival, debuting in Denver in October 2026 before moving to Nashville in 2027. The program aims to guide the creator community through its next phase of growth globally.
Why now? This past summer, Cannes Lions and VidCon took place just days apart, with overlapping conversations and speakers about the growing role of creators in entertainment. Lions has built a strong creator presence at Cannes over the last three years.
VidCon has run for 15 years as a gathering point for creators, fans, brands, and industry leaders. Lions is best known for its advertising and marketing festival.
What they're saying: "Joining LIONS allows us to amplify that mission on a global scale," said Sarah Tortoreti, VidCon's vice president and business lead.
"The creator economy has never moved faster or mattered more within the global marketing ecosystem," said Lions chief executive officer Simon Cook. He called VidCon "a dedicated global platform for an industry that's rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape."
The signal: The deal ties a fan-facing convention to a marketing-industry institution, reflecting how creators now sit at the centre of both culture and brand spending. Moving the event to new US cities signals ambitions well beyond its Anaheim roots.
Read more: thewrap.com
Image credit: Vidcon
