From The Hollywood Reporter · Alex Weprin · · 1m 30s
VidCon leaves Anaheim, merges with Cannes Lions
The creator conference is moving under new ownership and going global with a major advertising industry player.
In brief
The creator conference is moving under new ownership and going global with a major advertising industry player. VidCon is abandoning its 15-year Anaheim home to become part of Cannes Lions' worldwide expansion, launching a new U.S. festival in Denver next month. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
VidCon leaves Anaheim after 15 years
The creator conference is ending its long run in Southern California and relocating under new parent company Informa, which bought it from Paramount in 2024.
“For 15 years, VidCon has been the heartbeat of the creator community.”
Merging with Cannes Lions operator
Informa is combining VidCon with Lions, the operator of Cannes Lions advertising festival, to create a global creator platform called VidCon x Lions Creators.
Creators gaining prominence at Cannes
This year's Cannes Lions saw record creator attendance, with YouTube and TikTok holding official presences that rival major ad and media companies.
New U.S. festival launching in Denver
The Insight to Impact Festival will debut in Denver next month as the major U.S. event, with VidCon x Lions Creators as its centerpiece, before moving to Nashville in 2027.
Global expansion of creator platform
Lions plans to launch VidCon x Lions Creators spinoff events worldwide while maintaining a presence at Cannes Lions each summer, positioning creators as central to global marketing.
“Creators are increasingly central to how culture is created and how brands connect with audiences.”
Combining creator networks with industry reach
The merger pairs VidCon's deep relationships in the creator community with Lions' advertising industry authority, creating opportunities for creators to build careers and brands to forge partnerships.
“By combining VidCon's deep-rooted relationships across the creator economy with Lions' unparalleled industry authority and global reach, we're creating unprecedented opportunities.”
What to remember
VidCon is abandoning its 15-year Anaheim home to become part of Cannes Lions' worldwide expansion, launching a new U.S. festival in Denver next month.
