Shoppers and festival-goers noticed a playful, unapologetic Pride takeover at Cannes Lions as Canva’s Creative Cabana hosted a beach party celebrating LGBTQ+ rights, bringing drag, glitter, ice cream and even the Teletubbies , a colourful send-off that mattered at a week full of big-name panels and industry networking.

Essential Takeaways

  • Big, bold presence: Canva amplified its Cannes footprint with a visible Pride activation that mixed panels and party energy.
  • Sensory fun: Attendees described glitter, face paint, frozen drinks and pop hits, creating a light, joyful atmosphere.
  • Unexpected headline act: The Teletubbies made a surprise appearance as a symbol of inclusivity and nostalgia.
  • Brand collaboration: WildBrain Media Solutions partnered on the Teletubbies activation to mark the brand’s 30th anniversary.
  • Festival context: The party threaded into a week of Cannes Lions programming and high-profile interviews.

Canva leaned in where others leaned out

Canva’s Pride programming at Cannes felt direct and intentional, a crisp counterpoint to reports of companies scaling back on DE&I messaging. The Creative Cabana on the Croisette doubled as a hospitality space and a statement, bringing colourful moments and real people together. According to Canva’s own Pride hub, the platform has leaned into queer visibility and resources for creators, and that spirit was tangible on the sand. For festival-goers, it wasn’t just an advert , it felt like a deliberate, human-friendly community moment.

A beach party with the trappings of summer and spectacle

The event mixed simple pleasures , ice cream, frozen Smirnoff sips and face painting , with theatrical touches like a drag parade set to Katy Perry and Rihanna. Those small sensory cues made the space feel immersive; people chatted, danced and took photos in a relaxed, sunlit setting. Canva’s expanded Cannes presence this year followed a pattern: the company grew its beach footprint after pulling big visitor numbers in 2025, signalling that experiential, on-the-ground activations still cut through at big festivals.

The Teletubbies: nostalgia turned into a statement

Then came the Teletubbies, who took the stage amid cheers and danced to Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” making a vivid, slightly absurd endnote to the night. WildBrain Media Solutions brought the characters to Cannes as part of a 30th-anniversary push, turning children’s TV nostalgia into a branding moment that also underscored inclusivity. Festival-goers reacted with a mix of delight and bemused glee , the kind of warm, viral moment brands dream about. It worked because it felt playful rather than contrived.

Why brands are investing in festival experiences

Canva’s Creative Cabana wasn’t just a party; it was a strategic extension of a broader festival program of interviews and panels that drew household names. Cannes Lions is where marketers, creatives and execs expect to find both ideas and face time, and experiences like this help brands build memory and goodwill. Industry observers have noted that successful activations now combine substance , panels, conversations, resource pages , with tangible, shareable moments on site.

How to spot a thoughtful festival activation

If you’re thinking about what makes a festival activation land, look for a few practical signs: it should align with the brand’s stated values, offer sensory, low-friction moments for attendees, and create good photo ops without feeling exploitative. The best activations are also transparent about partners and intent; Canva’s public programming and WildBrain’s presence provided that clarity. For marketers planning events, the lesson is simple: lean into authenticity, not gimmickry.

It's a small, sparkly reminder that when brands show up with purpose and a sense of fun, people remember it.

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