VidCon joins forces with Cannes Lions owner, bringing Anaheim event to an end

VidCon is joining forces with the organisation behind Cannes Lions, bringing its long-running Anaheim event to an end after 15 years.

From autumn 2027, the creator convention will instead take place in Nashville, where its industry conference and fan convention will be combined with the creator programme run by Cannes Lions.

The tie-up resolves a growing scheduling clash between the two events. VidCon and Cannes Lions have typically taken place around the same time each June, forcing some creators and industry attendees to choose between them.

That overlap has become more pronounced as Cannes has pushed further into the creator economy. It launched LIONS Creators, a dedicated programme for creators, in 2023, while more than 300 creators attended the festival in 2026 alongside dedicated programming and a beachfront creator hub.

VidCon has traditionally occupied a different part of the market, combining an industry conference with a fan convention where audiences can meet and see panels with their favourite creators. Both parts will move to Nashville.

Simon Cook, chief executive of LIONS, said: "The creator economy has never moved faster or mattered more within the global marketing ecosystem. Creators are increasingly central to how culture is created and how brands connect with audiences."

He added that bringing VidCon into LIONS would allow it to "build out a dedicated global platform for an industry that's rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape."

The move builds on an existing relationship. Informa already owns both organisations, having acquired VidCon from Paramount in 2024.

Cannes Lions will continue to run its creator programme in 2027, while VidCon will also have a presence at the festival. Further details are expected later this year.