The audiovisual market MIPCOM, held in Cannes, has closed its 2026 edition with a widespread sense of uncertainty within the global television industry. The event, which for years has been the major showcase for buying and selling fiction and entertainment content, is going through a moment of transformation that has left its mark on the atmosphere at the Palais des Festivals.
The relevance of this meeting is significant: it coincides with announcements of staff cuts at Netflix, the consolidation of major corporate mergers, and an accelerated change in audiovisual consumption habits, factors that are redefining the television business globally.
Fewer professionals and a quieter atmosphere
According to official data from the organization, MIPCOM 2026 brought together 10,100 professionals from 104 countries, about 500 fewer people than in the 2025 edition. Several attendees noted that the actual turnout could be even lower than the official figure, judging by shorter queues, less bustle, and some spaces without stands set up.
A recurring detail mentioned was the absence of carpeting on the Palais floor, a decision by the organizer RX France justified by environmental reasons, but which surprised professionals due to its aesthetic impact.
The largest delegations were, in this order, those from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Italy, Japan, and India.
Netflix cuts staff and changes content leader
One of the announcements that resonated most during the market was Netflix's plan to reduce its workforce by 6%, which is equivalent to nearly a thousand jobs. Among those affected is Bela Bajaria, who until now was the platform's head of content.
Bajaria received the Variety Vanguard Award in Cannes just a couple of days before her departure was confirmed. Her replacement will be Peter Rice, with previous experience at FOX and Disney. Despite the announcement of staff adjustments, Netflix shares did not register a bullish reaction in the stock market.
This move adds to other recent structural changes in the sector, such as the reorganization of Skydance and the merger between Banijay and All3Media, operations that have been a constant topic of conversation among attendees.
Brands, YouTube, vertical, and artificial intelligence
Beyond corporate moves, MIPCOM 2026 has shown how new players and formats are reconfiguring the business. Dentsu participated in the market for the first time, a trend that, according to Lucy Smith, director of MIPCOM, will be repeated with other brands in future editions interested in entering production and storytelling.
YouTube continues to gain weight in user consumption time, although it still does not fully convince traditional producers and distributors. The vertical format, for its part, is adding more companies and genres to its offering.
The consultancy Omdia, through María Rúa Aguete, provided several striking facts: YouTube Shorts is already more popular than Netflix in the United States, viewers do not seem to care if a micro-drama has been produced with artificial intelligence, and half of the audience for vertical micro-dramas in the United Kingdom is composed of men.
In the field of classic entertainment, the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) formats session was rated as more refreshing than that of the consultancy The Wit, which went so far as to speak of a deep crisis in traditional entertainment formats.
Drop in premieres on television and platforms
Data from the firm Glance, after analyzing 48 countries, reflect that television stations have launched 12% fewer new series in the first nine months of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Streaming platforms are not exempt from this trend either. Apple TV has reduced its new releases by 45%, Disney+ by 41%, and Netflix by 12%, while Prime Video has remained stable in its volume of premieres.
In this context, John Glencross, CEO of Calculus Capital, recommended that producers seek financing from the early stages of a project's development, rather than waiting until they have an advanced script.
Few major sales despite commercial effort
With 3,150 purchasing executives according to the organization, meeting agendas were full, but that did not always translate into closed deals. Several attendees agreed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to sign sales, even with all the elements in favor: a solid synopsis, a recognized cast, and planned financing.
Even so, there were notable operations. Atresmedia Sales sold the series Las hijas de la criada to five European countries. Beta Film placed the South Korean production Snow White Must Die on Rai and ERT, in addition to the Greek period drama The Great Chimera on RTVE, while celebrating the premiere of Queen Silvia.
ITV acquired the crime thriller The Galway Bay Murders for the United Kingdom, ZDF distributed several fiction works in different European markets, and the format The Voice, from ITV Studios, will reach 80 territories in 2027 with its arrival in Estonia. Telecinco, for its part, will adapt Tempting Fortune, from Cineflix Rights.
Despite these specific movements, the most repeated comment among professionals was the absence of major buying and selling announcements during this edition.
Corporate movements: BBC Studios, Banijay, and Mediawan
BBC Studios and the new Banijay expressed their intention to grow in fiction production in the United States. For its part, the French group Mediawan, present in Spain through Boomerang TV, Veranda TV, and Good Mood, reinforced its position in the US market with the acquisition of Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon's production company, previously owned by Candle Media.
Among other announcements, You First Originals presented its new identity under the name Victoria House, while Rakuten TV announced the expansion of its FAST channels division to the United States, the Middle East, and Japan.
The Spanish case: elections and readjustments
The pessimism detected in Cannes is also perceived in the Spanish industry, even though it continues to be considered a solid market from the outside. The general elections scheduled for November 29 have intensified the winds of change that had already been noted following recent appointments at Movistar Plus and HBO Max.
At Televisión Española, decision-making could be conditioned, or even paralyzed, until the election result and the configuration of the future government are known. Depending on how the political situation evolves, the public broadcaster could enter a process of deep review or maintain its current course.
The programming of private free-to-air television stations has also begun to introduce adjustments due to the election date. It remains to be seen how advertising investment evolves, traditionally more conservative in election periods, just in the last quarter of the year, the most relevant due to the Christmas campaign.
Added to this landscape is the fact that Telecinco continues to struggle to find a clear programming line, while the channel La Séptima is scheduled to premiere on November 5.
Netflix and the rights to the 2030 World Cup in Spain
In the midst of MIPCOM, Netflix surprised by announcing the purchase of the rights to the 2030 World Cup for Spain and Andorra. According to its statement, the platform will offer one match per day for free, in addition to granting a national television network a package that will include all of Spain's matches, both semifinals, and the final.
This strategy would allow for significant advertising revenue to be generated around the sporting event, benefiting both Netflix and the network that broadcasts that package of matches.
In parallel, doubts persist about the impact that the global Netflix staff cuts will have in Spain, while Prime Video has confirmed the temporary suspension of its original documentary production line in the country.
MIPJunior and the future of children’s content
In the days prior to MIPCOM, MIPJunior was held, a market focused on children's and youth content whose continuity is beginning to generate doubts among industry professionals. In this edition, it brought together more than 600 participants.
During the meeting, the consultancy Ampere Analysis revealed that the number of children's projects approved for release on subscription platforms (SVoD) has been halved since 2022, a figure that reflects the growing difficulties in producing content aimed at this audience.
Next meeting in 2027
MIPCOM will return to Cannes from October 18 to 21, 2027. It is expected that the map of participants will undergo significant changes again, especially after rumors that this could have been the last edition in which Paramount and Warner Bros. maintain independent stands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many professionals attended MIPCOM 2026?
According to official data from the organization, 10,100 professionals from 104 countries attended, about 500 fewer people than in the 2025 edition.
Why is Netflix cutting staff in 2026?
Netflix announced a plan to reduce its workforce by 6%, equivalent to about a thousand jobs, in a context of internal reorganization that included the departure of Bela Bajaria as head of content.
Who is replacing Bela Bajaria at Netflix?
Peter Rice, who previously worked at FOX and Disney, has been appointed as her replacement at the head of the platform's content.
Which platforms reduced their premieres the most in 2026?
According to data from Glance, Apple TV reduced its new releases by 45%, Disney+ by 41%, and Netflix by 12%, while Prime Video kept its volume of premieres stable.
What happened with the rights to the 2030 World Cup in Spain?
Netflix acquired the rights for Spain and Andorra, with the possibility of broadcasting one free match per day and granting a national free-to-air network a package that will include all of the national team's matches, both semifinals, and the final.
When will the next edition of MIPCOM be?
MIPCOM will be held again in Cannes from October 18 to 21, 2027.
How does the Spanish political situation affect the television industry?
The general elections scheduled for November 29 have generated uncertainty in the decision-making of Televisión Española and could influence advertising investment in the last quarter of the year.
