The Gerety Awards brought its creative community together in Cannes for the annual VIP Diamond BBQ, celebrating the 2026 shortlist with jury members, agency leaders, creatives, brand executives and friends of the awards.
Held at the Gerety Villa overlooking the French Riviera, the gathering once again served as one of the week’s more relaxed industry events, giving guests from around the world a chance to reconnect, celebrate the shortlisted work and continue conversations that began during this year’s judging sessions.
The event featured food, music and an informal atmosphere designed to bring the Gerety community together around the ideas and creative work recognized in this year’s competition.
The 2026 Gerety VIP Diamond BBQ and shortlist celebration was made possible by Tantor Films, with support from Mastercard, SheSays, Insider Latam and The Experience Lab.
Ahead of the BBQ, Gerety Awards also spoke with Grand Jury member Polina Vidas, Head of Marketing and Communications Bulgaria at Mastercard, as part of its ongoing conversations around the work and perspectives shaping this year’s awards.
As part of the event’s tradition, guests received the symbolic brooch inspired by Frances Gerety, the copywriter who coined “A Diamond is Forever.” The gesture honors the award’s namesake and the spirit of originality that defines the competition.
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This year’s Gerety Awards featured more than 260 judges from over 50 countries, with executive jury sessions taking place across 15 locations worldwide. The highest-scoring campaigns selected by the juries were celebrated throughout the week, with agencies and creative teams also hosting internal screenings of the Gerety Shortlist Reel.
Ingrid Bragemann, founder and partner at Tantor Films and Tusk Content, addressed guests with a message about technology, community and the importance of preserving the human force behind creativity.
“We all know that things are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and virtual worlds are becoming more present in every aspect of our lives,” Bragemann said. “We do not deny progress — in fact, we embrace it — but as a production company working for people, and as developers and mentors of young talent, we believe it is vital to keep communities connected and protect what is truly essential: the human essence behind creativity.”
She added, “Today more than ever, we are committed to promoting the spirit of unity and joy that defines us.”
A special moment during the celebration came from Deborah Mayer, founder of Iron Dames, owner of Cannes Stars and Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab, and majority shareholder of PREMA Racing. Speaking to agency leaders, brand executives and creative decision-makers, Mayer shared the vision behind Iron Dames and discussed leadership, opportunity and the creation of lasting change.
As one of the few women leading companies at the highest level of international motorsport, Mayer spoke about becoming a “Builder of Possibility” — turning passion into purpose, challenging assumptions, creating opportunities before success is visible and widening the path for those who come next.
“I never believed women needed different standards,” Mayer said. “They just deserved the same opportunity to meet them. And when women are given the chance, they do not simply participate. They win. They lead. They inspire. You do not force excellence. You create the conditions in which excellence can emerge.”
Her message reflected many of the values that have shaped Gerety since its inception, including creating opportunities, championing original thinking, and celebrating creative excellence from diverse perspectives.
Beyond motorsport, Iron Dames continues to champion female talent and leadership across disciplines, showing how purpose-driven initiatives can create impact both within and beyond sport. Mayer joined the event thanks to Heather Heller, Founder of The Experience Lab, an experiential and content platform focused on creating culturally relevant, data-driven environments where brands, athletes and audiences connect in meaningful ways.
The Gerety Awards continue to provide a global platform for creative work judged by the originality of the idea and the quality of its execution. The Jury Insight panels are available on demand, featuring judges and jury presidents from around the world discussing the ideas, debates and perspectives that shaped the 2026 shortlist. Take a look at some photos from the event below:
See the full shortlist at geretyawards.com.
