34 days until MIPIM 2026. Are you ready?

We’ll say it again. There are only 34 days (not working days, days) until property’s biggest event of the year gets underway.

Are you ready?

Ready or not, here it comes. You can’t hide. But don’t panic; it’s just about getting ahead of it and doing a little light preparation.

Want to know how to make the most of it?

Let’s dive in.

What’s different about MIPIM 2026?

Before you embark on what is probably your biggest marketing investment of the calendar, there’s one important shift you need to be aware of.

It won’t have escaped your attention that the market’s been a little wobbly of late, and every single SME business is feeling it. MIPIM isn’t a default diary entry – it’s expensive and time-intensive. And that’s often meant that SMEs simply can’t justify the cost. Happily, Marketing Manchester has created a new-for-this-year SME package to bring the MIPIM investment more in reach. There’ll be more smaller Manchester businesses joining the contingent down on the Riviera. And it’ll be all the better for it.

2026 will have a larger and more coordinated northern presence, with the Manchester stand stepping up its programme once again with sessions on the city region’s ‘good growth fund’ devolution, big ticket projects and our approach to delivering the difficult stuff. Also, media group Place has created a Northern Stand, bringing together previously disparate geographies from across the north. From our experience, this is a genuinely positive move. It creates a focal point for northern cities large and small to come together and collaborate.

Get clear on why you’re going

So, back to making the most of it.

Your MIPIM commitment wasn’t taken lightly, and likely came at the expense of something else you could’ve invested in.

So, before you pack your bag, take the time to remind yourself what business objectives influenced your decision to book on, and map out what you want to achieve (and how you’ll measure success).

There’s a big difference between showing up and going with purpose.

Ask yourself: why are you going, and what are you hoping to get out of it? Be clear about this, and make it measurable.

This is more important than ever.

Structure your schedule intelligently

Success at MIPIM is marked by valuable conversations rather than a packed-out calendar, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan out your days. With so much happening at once, you need to have an organised diary to get the most out of it.

Your business goals will help you prioritise what sessions and events you can’t afford to miss, and who to make plans with in advance. Our advice is to choose where you’ll focus and jump in with both feet. Don’t try to do everything; just do one thing and do it well.

Just remember to leave some space in your week to take up the offer of a spontaneous coffee or to step into the Saudi pavilion or catch the keynote. That’s where the MIPIM magic happens.

Polish your pitch

In Cannes, first impressions count. (Actually, that’s true the world over.)

You’ll be having lots of short, informal conversations with people who may be pulled in another direction at a moment’s notice. And, in a similar vein to your university Freshers’ Week, you’ll find yourself answering similar questions time and again.

Clarity matters.

It’s worth thinking about how you would explain simply what you do, who for and how you help solve their problem.

And what about the age old, “so, what are you working on at the moment?”

Be sure to have some marketing collateral up your sleeve if you do find yourself in a conversation that’s really going places. Whether it’s a business card or something else memorable, it’ll help jog their memory when they’re back home and sorting through their bag.

Let’s get practical

Manage your energy, not just your diary.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Take an umbrella (though we’re hoping for better weather than last year), and a water bottle.

MIPIM is intense. Long days, lots of walking, constant noise and conversation.

The people who get the most out of the week are those that pace themselves. That means eating properly, drinking water, taking short breaks and not feeling guilty about stepping away from the Palais when you need to reset. You’ll be far better company, and a better listener, if you’re not running on fumes.

And while it is very much a working week, Cannes itself does a lot of the heavy lifting socially. A walk along the seafront or a relaxed coffee away from the main drag can create the space for more open, interesting conversations than a rushed meeting ever could.

The real work starts when you get home

The biggest mistake people make with MIPIM is treating the trip home as the end point.

We recommend keeping your diary clear and leaving your out of office on for a couple of days when you get back. Never mind catching up on the emails and the work that you missed while you were away... you’ve a year’s worth of new knowledge, fresh connections and interesting conversations to capture.

Before MIPIM fades into your short-term memory, take stock while it’s fresh in your mind. What worked? What didn’t? Which conversations felt most valuable and why? Were your original objectives realistic, and did they stand up once you were on the ground? Bring your home team in on these discussions. And capture it all in your CRM! (or a spreadsheet).

Being honest at this stage helps you understand the return on your investment, and to refine your approach year on year.

And, importantly, take time to log who you met, what you discussed and what you agreed to do next. Then prioritise making timely, thoughtful follow-ups. In an industry where it can take years for a new contact to turn into a new client, CRM tools are a brilliant way to log your new contacts and keep track of every touch point you have with them, helping you to really understand how effective your marketing tactics have been.

MIPIM isn’t a one-off.

The lessons you take from 2026 - and being able to track the return on your investment - will shape how you approach future events and how confidently you invest again.

It’s these two important tasks that transform MIPIM from an extended networking event into a meaningful business investment.

Final thoughts

MIPIM 2026 will be what you make it.

With a bit of preparation, a clear sense of purpose and a willingness to be present rather than frantic, it can be genuinely productive as well as fun.

So, if you’re going, make it count.