TFWA Cannes: the unmissable event for travel retail & duty-free

The previous edition gave Creative Spirit the opportunity to orchestrate several key moments, showcasing its expertise across a variety of formats:

Opening Conference: laying the foundations of the 2024 edition, unveiling the main themes, and staging a universe that sets the tone for the exhibition.

Closing Party: a unifying closing evening, designed as a suspended moment where clients, partners, and guests mingle in a festive and refined atmosphere.

Avolta Party: a landmark event in partnership with Avolta, conceived to make a lasting impression and embody the strength of a brand within the prestigious setting of TFWA Cannes.

All these formats highlight the ability to combine organizational rigor, an eye for detail, and creativity, in an international environment where excellence is the standard.

The Opening Conference: Shaping the World of Travel Retail – Produced by Creative Spirit

Monday 28 September, 9:00 am–11:45 am, Grand Auditorium. TFWA President Sarah Branquinho will open the conference with her overview of the state of the industry. This will be followed by three presentations:

• David McWilliams, economist and author, on the geopolitical and trade shifts affecting an industry built on open borders.

• Gilles Roucolle, Head of Industries at Oliver Wyman and author of Transformations in Mobility, on the transformation of airports and transport hubs.

• Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, on the mechanisms of attention and behaviour, and how they are reshaping the consumer of tomorrow.

The Workshops: Jean Mineur Auditorium Four sessions have been announced, each drawing on new research:

• Tuesday 29 September: Oliver Wyman (Pierre-Alexandre Koch, Denise van Wijk) will present a TFWA study on the drivers of customer growth.

• Tuesday 29 September: Amadeus (Marina Giuliano) will explore the forces reshaping global mobility and the emergence of new traveller flows.

• Wednesday 30 September: m1nd-set (Anna Marchesini) will examine changing shopping behaviours in the fashion category.

• Wednesday 30 September: Kearney (Victor Dijon, Alex Liu) will look at how AI can turn consumer data into growth.

Networking: Where Business Gets Done – Produced by Creative Spirit

The Opening Cocktail will take place on Sunday 27 September on the Carlton Beach. It officially kicks off the week and is already a key business networking opportunity. The TFWA Lounge, with Qatar Duty Free as Main Partner, will serve as the main end-of-day meeting point. The ONE2ONE service remains a cornerstone of the event, with pre-arranged meetings taking place on exhibitors’ stands throughout the week.

Start Up Day

Thursday 1 October, 9:00 am–11:30 am, at the Palais Press Centre (Level 1). Alongside Mondelez International World Travel Retail, several solutions and services companies will pitch their latest innovations.

Impact Initiatives – Produced by Creative Spirit

Two charitable initiatives will run throughout the week. The Moodie Davitt Report’s #KickCancerThon will set up stationary bikes in front of the Palais: kilometres cycled by delegates will be converted into donations from TFWA to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London’s cancer research programme, in memory of Sinead Moodie. Meanwhile, the fourth edition of Yes We Cannes! Handisport will take over the Allées de la Liberté with a programme of adaptive sports open to delegates.

Brands Attending

Confirmed exhibitors include Campari, BVLGARI, Clarins Group, CHANEL, Ferrero and Longchamp. Nine brands will be making their Cannes debut this year: Crocs, LOEWE, Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, Eau Thermale Avène, Bioderma, Anua, Molinari, Atyab Al Marshoud and A L’OLIVIER.

The trade show takes over the Palais. The brands, meanwhile, come to life beyond it: private beaches, rooftops, villas and client dinners. And everyone is competing for the same five evenings.

What an international trade show demands • Multinational logistics: guest reception, transfers, accommodation and coordination with local authorities. • A concept aligned with the show: for the 2026 edition, the key themes are mobility, consumer data and AI applied to retail. • Strong local roots: a trusted network of French Riviera suppliers, essential when set-up timelines are measured in hours.