World AI Cannes Festival — WAICF Awards 2026

Competition · Cannes, France

Closed next cycle The WAICF Awards 2026 call closed on 19 December 2025 and the ceremony was held on 13 February 2026. The World AI Cannes Festival returns on 10-11 February 2027 at the Palais des Festivals, but no call for the 2027 awards has been published.

Each category winner receives a trophy, online visibility and public relations support, a full pass to the World AI Cannes Festival, and media coverage across the festival's social channels and press releases. Semi-finalists also get mentorship from expert advisers during the selection phase, and the ceremony is staged in the Riviera conference room in front of the festival audience. Cheque

None Equity

Cannes, France Where

The WAICF Awards are the World AI Cannes Festival's own prize for AI projects and companies, judged in three categories: the Excellence Award (Grand Jury Prize), the Startup Award and the Impact Award. Applications are submitted through the festival's Agorize challenge platform.

Entry is open to AI projects and companies, individuals included, and entrants may take part more than once. Each category winner receives a trophy, online visibility and public relations support, a full pass to the festival, and media coverage across the festival's social channels and press releases. Semi-finalists also get mentorship from expert advisers during the selection phase, and the ceremony is staged in the Riviera conference room in front of the festival audience. No equity is taken.

The 2026 call closed on 19 December 2025 and the ceremony was held on 13 February 2026. The World AI Cannes Festival returns on 10-11 February 2027 at the Palais des Festivals, but no call for the 2027 awards has been published.

What it actually costs you

ChequeEach category winner receives a trophy, online visibility and public relations support, a full pass to the World AI Cannes Festival, and media coverage across the festival's social channels and press releases. Semi-finalists also get mentorship from expert advisers during the selection phase, and the ceremony is staged in the Riviera conference room in front of the festival audience.

Equity takenNone

Market rate for the same chequeOpen to AI projects and companies entering one of three categories: the Excellence Award (Grand Jury Prize), the Startup Award and the Impact Award. Individuals may enter, and entrants may participate multiple times. Applications are submitted through the festival's Agorize challenge platform.

The World AI Cannes Festival runs its own awards for AI projects and companies across three categories: Excellence, Startup and Impact. Individuals may enter, and entrants may return more than once. Each winner takes a trophy, PR support, a full festival pass and coverage on festival channels, while semi-finalists receive mentorship from expert advisers. The ceremony is staged in Cannes and no equity is taken.