Fashion AI Expo Cannes Edition — 2026

Cannes, 18 May 2026 — The Cannes edition officially opened at Thalie Paris, a unique cultural destination in the heart of Cannes founded by Nathalie Dionne.

More than a flagship store (65 Boulevard de la Croisette), Thalie Paris has become a meeting point for fashion, art, cinema, and creativity, hosting exclusive events during the Cannes Film Festival, including the press conference of Don't Give Up featuring actress Olga Kurylenko, as well as the opening exhibition of Fashion AI Expo.

The event brought together an international community of founders, creators, entrepreneurs, fashion professionals, media representatives, and technology innovators in an intimate setting dedicated to discovery, networking, and meaningful conversations.

Among the featured participants were OpenMall (Italy), represented by CEO Gennaro Cali and Maurizio Marseguerra, and Astria (Israel), represented by CFO Daniel Rein, who joined industry leaders to discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping fashion communication, customer engagement, creative production, and immersive brand experiences.

The event marked the beginning of a series of meetings, presentations, collaborations, and industry conversations taking place throughout the Fashion AI Expo Cannes Edition.

A special thank you to Nathalie Dionne for her partnership, vision, warm welcome, and support in making this opening event possible.

One of the highlights of the opening event was the presentation by OpenMall, a next-generation platform transforming digital retail through immersive virtual experiences.

Led by Gennaro Cali, CEO of OpenMall, and Maurizio Marseguerra, the presentation introduced guests to a new vision of how fashion brands can engage audiences through virtual environments and AI-powered technologies.

Guests discovered OpenMall’s immersive virtual showroom and virtual try-on solutions, designed to help brands create engaging customer journeys that extend far beyond traditional e-commerce. The platform demonstrated how virtual environments can enhance product discovery, brand storytelling, customer engagement, and global visibility while opening new opportunities for fashion and luxury businesses in the digital era.

The presentation sparked valuable discussions around the future of retail, showcasing how innovative technologies can create more interactive, personalized, and meaningful connections between brands and consumers.

Through its participation in the Cannes Edition, OpenMall exemplified Fashion AI Expo’s mission of bringing together fashion professionals and technology innovators to explore the next generation of digital experiences and customer engagement.

As part of the Cannes Edition, Fashion AI Expo presented an exclusive AI-generated fashion editorial created in collaboration with Astria, a leading platform for AI-powered visual content creation.

The project was introduced by Daniel Rein, CFO of Astria, and reflects the company's vision of empowering creatives, brands, and media organizations through advanced generative AI technologies. Founded by entrepreneur Alon Burg, Astria has become a recognized innovator in AI image generation, enabling creators to produce high-quality visual content while maintaining artistic direction and brand identity.

The editorial was created by AI artist and creative director Sivan Aharon, with styling by Alexandra Pavlova, bringing together fashion creativity and cutting-edge technology in a visual narrative inspired by the glamour and atmosphere of Cannes.

The virtual editorial featured selected pieces from Fashion AI Expo's designer and brand partners, including Oliver Weber Collection, Aysina, Thalie Paris, BY GAIL, Elena Perseil, 21SIX, Eddie Corps, Semenenko, EPPS, Serena B, Kenzel, FAIR BLVD, and Gustave Eiffel Champagne.

By integrating these brands into AI-generated cinematic environments, the project demonstrated how emerging technologies can create new opportunities for fashion presentation, editorial production, digital storytelling, and international visibility. The editorial explored how designers and brands can extend their creative narratives beyond traditional photoshoots, embracing immersive visual worlds while preserving their unique identity and craftsmanship.

The project was subsequently featured by Fashion Week Online, highlighting the growing intersection between fashion media, creativity, and AI-powered content production. Through this collaboration, Fashion AI Expo and Astria demonstrated how artificial intelligence can become a powerful tool for fashion communication, editorial creation, brand marketing, and next-generation storytelling while keeping human creativity at the center of the process.

During the Cannes Edition, Fashion AI Expo had the privilege of attending the inspiring gala evening hosted by Listen to Her Parole, founded by Alice Chen and Naomi Massengo.

More than a celebration, the event brought together entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators, and industry leaders for meaningful conversations around leadership, innovation, diversity, and women's voices across industries.

Among the distinguished guests was Emmanuel Suissa, Chief Partnership Officer at Printemps, whose presence contributed to the dialogue between innovation, retail, luxury, and emerging technologies. The evening was further enriched by the participation of Listen to Her Parole's technology partner, a robotics company, showcasing how innovation and human-centered technology can support new forms of engagement, communication, and collaboration.

A special moment of the evening was the presence of Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace, whose work promoting culture, inclusion, and human dignity continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

During the event, Olga Gasnier, Founder and CEO of Fashion AI Expo, shared her perspective on how artificial intelligence can help build trust in media by increasing transparency, supporting content creation, and enabling more meaningful connections between brands, creators, and audiences. The discussion highlighted the importance of using technology not only as a tool for efficiency but also as a catalyst for authenticity and responsible communication.

Fashion AI Expo is proud to support initiatives that foster dialogue, collaboration, and leadership while empowering the next generation of changemakers.

Special thanks to Alice Chen and Naomi Massengo, founders of Listen to Her Parole, for creating such an impactful platform that brings together voices from across industries to inspire positive change.

Photographers : Vilena Photo, Marina Skyf

One of the defining moments of the Cannes edition was the introduction of Fashion AI Expo technology partners to key players within the international fashion ecosystem.

Fashion AI Expo had the privilege of introducing its technology partners to BJS House Productions, a renowned fashion and celebrity communications house known for its presence across international fashion, luxury, entertainment, and cinema events, founded by Bożena Janisiw and Stéphane Cealis. 

As part of this exclusive presentation, conversations focused on how emerging technologies can support luxury communication, brand storytelling, immersive experiences, and audience engagement.

The exchange generated valuable discussions and opened new opportunities for future collaborations between fashion professionals and technology innovators.

Special thanks to Bożena Janisiw and Stéphane Cealis, founders and CEO of BJS Productions, for her openness, vision, and warm welcome.

Fashion AI Expo also visited United Fashion Designers (UFD), an international showroom and business platform supporting designers and brands through visibility, strategic partnerships, and international development opportunities.

Founded by Elmira Polyayeva, UFD has built a powerful ecosystem helping designers connect with buyers, industry professionals, and new markets.

During the visit, OpenMall and Astria presented technologies designed specifically for fashion businesses, creating discussions around practical applications of AI, virtual showrooms, digital sales tools, and brand growth strategies.

The exchange highlighted how innovation can create tangible value for designers, brands, showrooms, and the wider fashion industry.

As part of the Cannes edition, Fashion AI Expo hosted a curated Fashion & Innovat Showroom designed to showcase innovative brands through a more intimate and targeted format.

Throughout the day, invited guests, creators, media representatives, and industry professionals discovered brands operating at the intersection of fashion, beauty, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Featured participants included:

• Attach
• Margot VII 
• Thalie Paris

Beyond product discovery, the showroom served as a platform for introductions, content creation, and conversations aimed at fostering future collaborations.

The initiative reflected Fashion AI Expo’s commitment to creating meaningful visibility opportunities for emerging and established brands.

As part of the Cannes Edition, Fashion AI Expo also produced an exclusive fashion editorial celebrating the timeless elegance and cinematic atmosphere of the French Riviera. Published by FAB UK Magazine, the editorial explored the intersection of fashion, creativity, luxury, and visual storytelling during one of the world's most iconic cultural events. 

Photographed and produced by Olga Gasnier the story began at the iconic Palais des Festivals before moving to the legendary pier of the Carlton and Hôtel Martinez, capturing the unique energy that transforms Cannes into the global capital of cinema each May. 

Model Sofia embodied contemporary Riviera elegance wearing creations by Margot VII, complemented by the iconic Thalie Mini Cabochon Crystal Evening Bag. Styling was created by Valeryia Belaya, while makeup and hair were crafted by international makeup artist and educator Falak Amaar, whose work spans Dubai, London, and Singapore. 

Created within the Fashion AI Expo showroom environment in Cannes, the editorial celebrated modern femininity, craftsmanship, and the enduring glamour of the French Riviera while highlighting the role of creative collaborations in shaping contemporary fashion narratives. The project further demonstrated Fashion AI Expo's commitment to supporting brands through content creation, international media visibility, and high-quality editorial production. 

Published by FAB UK Magazine, the editorial served as another example of how Fashion AI Expo connects fashion, media, and creative storytelling to amplify the visibility of designers, brands, and industry partners on an international stage.

Another important chapter of the Cannes edition was the launch of the Fashion AI Expo Podcast Series.

Recorded at the newly opened Objo Podcast Studio in Cannes, the series brought together experts from fashion, technology, luxury, and entrepreneurship to discuss innovation, creativity, AI adoption, and the future of the industry.

Featured guests included:

• Daniel Rein (Astria)
• Nathalie Dionne (Thalie)
• Terri Trovato (Darcy Agency)
• Maria Samovarova (Luxurynsight)
• AI-Twin of Gennaro Cali (OpenMall)

The conversations explored how emerging technologies are reshaping fashion communication, luxury experiences, brand building, and customer engagement.

Episodes will be released throughout the year across Fashion AI Expo channels.

The Cannes Edition reaffirmed Fashion AI Expo's vision: creating meaningful connections between fashion, technology, media, and innovation.

From immersive retail experiences and AI-powered creative projects to industry networking, editorial productions, podcast conversations, and strategic introductions, the edition demonstrated the growing demand for platforms that bring together diverse perspectives and expertise across industries.

More than a series of events, Cannes became a catalyst for new partnerships, new ideas, and future collaborations. It showcased how innovation can create tangible value for designers, brands, creators, technology companies, and the wider fashion ecosystem.

As Fashion AI Expo continues its international development, our mission remains clear: to build a global community where creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship come together to shape the future of fashion.

The conversations have started. The collaborations are taking shape. The future is being built together.