Cannes Lions 2026 🦁

While Cannes Lions is known for creativity, conversations and hospitality, what often goes unseen is the scale of infrastructure required to bring these experiences to life.

This year, Star Live delivered the structural foundations behind three major beachfront projects: the full build for Sport Beach, two structures for Google with Amplify, and a bespoke pergola structure for Canva with Public School.

Across the projects, our teams supplied and installed:
💥 44 Starbox units
☀️ 16 terraces
🔥 9 stair systems
⚡ Truss, flooring and shade structures
❄️ More than 20 air conditioning units

All delivered within highly compressed programmes where craning operations onto the beach could only take place overnight, creating round-the-clock build schedules across multiple sites.

One of the biggest achievements was logistics. Because Starbox structures are flat-packed, everything required across the three projects was delivered in just 16 trucks. Traditional container-based solutions would have required more than 30.

Building substantial steel-framed structures on sand is never simple. Every lift, every placement and every connection requires careful planning and coordination. Yet within a matter of days, empty sections of beach were transformed into destinations ready to host thousands of Cannes Lions attendees throughout the week.

The structures themselves are often the unsung heroes of Cannes. In the Riviera heat, solid steel-framed, air-conditioned spaces provide a genuine retreat from the sun. Across all three projects, the combination of elevated terraces, shaded outdoor spaces and fully conditioned interiors created comfortable, functional environments for meetings, networking and hospitality.

A huge thank you to our agency partners Amplify, Cheerful Twentyfirst and Public School, as well as the many specialist suppliers who make projects like these possible. From graphics, AV, power and data through to logistics, crane operators and installation crews, successful delivery is always a team effort.

The headlines may happen during Cannes week, but the real magic starts long before the doors open.