Good growth takes centre stage at MIPIM 2026

I’ve been attending MIPIM for almost 25 years, but this year felt special.

MIPIM week is always a frantic rush of too much to do and not enough time. There’s excitement, exclusivity, and, most importantly, opportunity. I’ve seen my fair share of MIPIM magic: why did this year feel like a standout?

Let’s talk about it.

Good growth in the limelight

Greater Manchester’s £1bn Good Growth Fund was a constant in conversations along the Croisette. In fact, if there was a phrase to sum up the themes from MIPIM 2026, it would be ‘good growth’, and not just in Greater Manchester, where the official fund is already moving into delivery, supporting projects that aim to create economic opportunity while improving quality of life and reducing inequalities.

Growth goes hand in hand with GM these days, but focus has turned to what ‘good’ growth is. In simple terms, good growth is about delivering long-term benefits for communities as well as commercial return.

The mood in Cannes

There was a different feeling at MIPIM in 2026. The brashness of years past seemed to have softened a little. The stands felt less flashy, the giveaways fewer, and the crowds more dispersed.

Oddly, that made the whole week feel more human. Cannes was a calmer place to navigate, and conversations were more thoughtful. Less noise, better behaviour, and more inclusivity.

When there’s a shift in the industry, MIPIM is always where it happens and this is a positive new direction.

Local government on the front foot

UK civic leaders were out in force, presenting long-term visions for their towns and actively encouraging investment. The collective tone was noticeably collaborative and conversation was welcomed. With a few exceptions, many civic leaders, especially those from the North West, were easily accessible. We even managed to get The D.O.C. (who was there to talk about bringing his Dream Enterprise Academy to Manchester) in front of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Combined Authority chief executive Caroline Simpson, and Lord Seb Coe after their talks.

The topic kept coming back to good growth and a strong emphasis that growth can work for everyone, not just investors chasing a quick return. Leaders spoke with enthusiasm about partnership, patience, and place, making the case that good development builds on shared goals.

Big ambitions on the table

It wouldn’t be MIPIM without some big projects in the limelight and the scale of ambition on display this year was incredible. Several projects announced or discussed have the potential to shape cities for generations.

Manchester Piccadilly (which makes an appearance every year, someway, somehow), Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Water Street regeneration area, Liverpool’s Industrial Strategy Zone, the transformation of Old Trafford, plans for Strangeways, and major regeneration proposals in Middleton all point to the scale of ambition in the North West. Make no bones about it, these are complex projects with generational impact for millions of people.

A different housing conversation

Housing was inevitably one of the dominant topics throughout the week and with good reason. We’re nearly two years into Labour’s tenure and we’re up against it if we’re going to get anywhere near the 1.5m housing target they’ve set.

Instead of focusing purely on targets, unit numbers, and rental yields, there was more discussion about homes, communities, and the quality of places people live in. It’s a subtle shift, but a reasonable one. With all the conversations about volume, it’s important to stop and ask what good quality homes look like and how they can best serve people and communities.

Perspective from the Middle East

A walk through the Middle Eastern pavilions always provides a sense of perspective.

The Riyadh-based New Murabba development is something straight out of a science fiction novel and a great example of the sheer scale of ambition in the region. It’s nothing short of extraordinary.

The New Murabba development alone is slated to deliver over 100,000 homes by 2040 and is something UK cities should be looking to for inspiration. The 15-minute-city-inspired walkable neighbourhoods really show what’s possible with the right ambition, determination, and masterplanning know-how.

The contexts are very different between the UK and Saudi Arabia, of course, but it does underline the scale of global development taking place.

The unexpected rise of data centres

One of the more surprising themes this year was the prominence of data centres. They were everywhere in the programme and in conversations. Global capacity is set to double by 2030. EMEA currently has 11.4GW of data centre capacity and 2.7GW under construction. Planned data centres will more than double that.

With around 250 projects reportedly in the UK pipeline, the sector is clearly moving fast, driven by AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. At the same time, questions are being asked about sustainability, energy demand, and long-term resilience. What happens when the technology shifts again?

Famous faces

There’s always a sprinkling of well-known names around the conference and there were some new ones there this year too. Steve Coogan, Seb Coe, and the legendary D.O.C. (who Luma was privileged to support) all made appearances.

Interestingly, there were fewer footballers and rugby players than in previous years.

The real magic of MIPIM

For all the panels, announcements, and presentations, the real magic of MIPIM lies in the people who attend. It’s cheesy, but it’s true.

It’s the concentration of talent and the openness of the conversations that deliver that fabled MIPIM magic.

That was the real theme of the week: a genuine focus on making things happen. From a small acorn a grand old oak can rise out of the ground. MIPIM 2026 has proven there are plenty of seeds in the ground. What will come of them could be magnificent.

We’ll report back on those seedlings next year.