Rida Tharana, Niranjan Mondal, Disha Madan & more regional creators to attend Cannes 2026

The 79th edition of the Festival de Cannes is expected to see a strong Indian creator presence this year, with regional digital creators, fashion commentators, entrepreneurs and influencers set to attend the festival between May 12 and 23.

Among the creators confirmed to be part of the Cannes lineup are Rida Tharana, content creator from Coorg; Niranjan Mondal, digital creator known for content rooted in Bengal’s culture; and Disha Madan, actor and lifestyle creator.

The broader delegation also includes Sufi Motiwala, fashion commentator and creator; Ishita Mangal, fashion creator; Nidhi Kumar, dancer and content creator; Ishani Mitra, digital creator; Smriti Khanna, lifestyle creator; Niharika Jain, creator and influencer; Pavitra Kaur, chef and culinary creator; Dipali Mathur, beauty pageant winner; Sam Webb, creator and model; and The Mermaid Scale, fashion and lifestyle creator.

Entrepreneurs Sneha Khanal and Bhupendra Khanal are also expected to attend. Their company, Dogsee Chew, operates in the pet care segment and has expanded to more than 30 countries.

The creator participation is being facilitated through partnerships tied to Brut India, which returns as the official media partner of Cannes this year.

Speaking about the rise of regional creators on international platforms, Shradha Singh, Chief Creative Officer at Brut India, said, “Some of the most fascinating trends we are witnessing include the way that regional Indian creators are creating a stir by getting involved in global cultural dialogue. India has an array of diversity, and viewers today are highly associated with the creators who speak their language and have roots within their stories.”

She added, “At Cannes, we witness that creators are taking with them their heritage. One such example includes Rida Tharana, who takes great pride in being able to showcase herself at Cannes after making it there from her native place, Coorg. Another such creator is Disha Madan, who is a global creator having immense cultural significance outside of India. Also, Niranjan Mondal is a representative of Bengal's culture and creatorship.”

The Cannes creator ecosystem has also become increasingly linked with brand collaborations. L'Oréal Paris is continuing its creator-led campaigns at the festival this year with its “Cannes Insiders” initiative featuring Sufi Motiwala and Ishita Mangal.

Singh also referenced the broader shift in brand strategy around creators. “Throughout the years, other brands such as CaratLane, Lakme, Titan, and boAt, among others, have also worked with creators in global events like Cannes because they recognize how important creators can be in influencing culture beyond mere advertising,” she said.

According to Singh, brands are increasingly moving beyond visibility-driven marketing toward cultural storytelling through creators.

The increasing presence of regional and digital-first creators at Cannes reflects a wider shift in India’s representation at international cultural events, which were previously dominated largely by film celebrities and luxury fashion appearances.