Lights, Camera, Capital: MIPIM’s expanding role in city-making

Historically defined by capital flows and deal-making, MIPIM today functions just as much as a global forum for ideas, collaboration and cross-sector exchange. It is increasingly a space where property intersects with design, workplace, brand, technology and culture, reflecting a more holistic understanding of how cities are conceived and delivered.

Bringing together more than 20,000 delegates from 90 countries, and institutions representing over €4 trillion in assets, the 2026 edition reinforced the scale and influence of the sector. The presence of international investors (nearly one-third of attendees) continues to underline MIPIM’s commercial importance. Yet the breadth of participants has expanded. Policymakers, mayors, architects, designers, and technology leaders are now equally visible, contributing to a programme that reflects the growing complexity of urban development.

This evolution is evident in both content and setting. Anchored at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes – also home to the Cannes Film Festival – the event extends along the seafront into a series of national and city pavilions. These spaces, representing places such as London, Manchester, Newcastle, and a wide range of European and Middle Eastern regions, operate as platforms for cities to position themselves on a global stage. The format moves fluidly between formal conference sessions and expo-style environments, creating opportunities for both structured dialogue and informal exchange.

Cannes itself plays a significant role in shaping the experience. The compact urban fabric, defined by historic streets, waterfront hotels and a dense network of cafés, becomes an extension of the event. Business is conducted not only within conference halls but across terraces, restaurants and temporary hospitality spaces. This blurring of formal and informal settings reinforces one of MIPIM’s defining characteristics: its ability to convene diverse groups in close proximity, enabling conversations that extend beyond traditional professional boundaries.

Several themes emerged strongly across the 2026 programme. Housing was at the forefront, with increased participation in sessions focused on supply, affordability and future living models. The challenges associated with the ‘squeezed middle’ (workforce and attainable housing) were widely acknowledged as a defining issue across global cities. Discussions also revisited the role of the public sector, with renewed calls for greater government involvement in the delivery of social housing, particularly in response to rising construction costs and constrained private-sector output.

Technology continues to reshape the sector at pace. The growing influence of artificial intelligence, alongside the rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure, was evident throughout the programme, most notably in a standing-room-only inaugural Data Centres Summit. These developments are not only influencing investment strategies but also redefining spatial and infrastructural priorities within cities. At the same time, the rise of life sciences and innovation corridors points to new models of economic clustering, where universities, industry and regional cities collaborate to support growth.

From transactional to relational development

Beyond these thematic discussions, a broader shift in tone was noticeable. Investors and developers are increasingly focused on long-term, scalable partnerships rather than transactional, one-off deals. This aligns with a wider emphasis on collaboration across the lifecycle of projects, involving closer integration between designers, contractors, clients and public stakeholders. In this context, MIPIM functions not simply as a marketplace, but as a platform for building relationships and aligning strategic priorities.

The role of culture and placemaking also featured prominently. A recurring debate centred on whether cultural programming should lead development, or whether development should create the conditions for culture to emerge organically. This reflects a growing recognition that successful places are not defined solely by their physical attributes, but by the narratives, identities and communities they support. Contributions from a diverse range of speakers, including those from outside the traditional property sector, reinforced this perspective, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary thinking.

A distinctly global dialogue around cities, development and design was evident throughout the programme, extending well beyond a purely European perspective. This international outlook was reflected in the recognition of the Sydney Fish Market project, which received the Special Jury Prize at the MIPIM Awards – designed by 3XN/GXN in association with BVN. Bringing together expertise and collaboration across continents, the project’s emphasis on integrated working – spanning disciplines, stakeholders and communities, closely aligned with many of the key themes emerging across the conference.

Sydney Fish Market project designed by 3XN/GXN in association with BVN. Image courtesy of BVN Architects.

Installations and pavilions further illustrated this collaborative ethos. The Turkish Ion Pavilion, designed by Snøhetta, for example, centred on a large circular table that hosted ongoing discussions about housing, belonging and place, interspersed with performances and participatory sessions. Such formats reflect a shift towards more inclusive and dialogic models of engagement, moving beyond traditional presentation-based approaches.

MIPIM also highlighted the importance of looking beyond established global capitals. Several discussions pointed to the lessons emerging from smaller or secondary cities, where innovation in housing, infrastructure and governance is often more agile. This aligns with a broader rebalancing of attention within the real estate sector, as growth opportunities and new models of urban development emerge across diverse geographies.

While workplace remained a core theme within the programme, the discussion has matured. Rather than focusing solely on office typologies, it is increasingly situated within wider considerations of mixed-use development, urban experience and the integration of work with living and leisure.

Ultimately, MIPIM 2026 reinforced its dual identity: both a marketplace for global capital and a meeting point for ideas shaping the future of cities. Its value lies not only in the scale of investment it attracts, but in its ability to convene a wide spectrum of voices and perspectives. In doing so, it creates an environment where connections lead to collaboration, insights inform strategy, and conversations contribute to long-term change.

As the challenges facing cities become more complex the need for such platforms becomes increasingly clear.