The Female Quotient is heading to the beach for Cannes Lions 2026.
The media and advisory company announced the launch of FQ Beach and Camp on Wednesday (March 25), an expansion of its FQ Lounge set-up on the rooftop of the Hôtel Martinez.
The space, situated on the Croisette across from Hôtel Martinez, will host an outdoor stage with daily programming, brand activations, and gatherings that forward The FQ’s mission.
Meanwhile, the rooftop space will host private gatherings with industry leaders alongside a dedicated content studio for social-first storytelling.
“For over ten years, the FQ Lounge at Cannes Lions has been the destination for the conversations and connections that move business forward,” said Shelley Zalis, founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, in a statement. “Expanding to the beach allows us to build on that foundation, creating more space, more access, and more opportunity for our growing community to show up and have the conversations that drive what’s next.”
A growing community
Founded in 2015 by Zalis, The FQ has grown to a worldwide community of 7 million members across 30 industries in 100 countries. The company hosts events across the globe, including an AI summit, that draw over 50,000 attendees annually.
At Cannes Lions, FQ Beach is a natural expansion for the company. For more than ten years, the FQ Lounge has hosted business leaders on the penthouse rooftop of the Hôtel Martinez. This year, that content will move to the larger stage at FQ Beach.
“[FQ’s] expansion allows us to scale that experience, creating more opportunities for the connection, visibility, and storytelling that our community of leaders has come to expect from The FQ,” said Talia Bender Small, President of The Female Quotient, in a statement.
The FQ’s growth comes at a time when McKinsey & Company released their Women in the Workplace report that shows women receive less career support and fewer advancement opportunities in the workplace.
Cannes for kids
The FQ also announced Camp @ Cannes, in association with home improvement retailer Lowe’s, to provide programming for children with supervision from credentialed childcare providers.
“You can do it all, but not all at once, and definitely not alone,” Zalis said in a statement. “Camp @ Cannes is an experience that reflects real life, where work and family can coexist, and therefore more leaders can participate.”
Camp @ Cannes was inspired by Lowe’s revamp of MyLowe’s Rewards Kids Club, which inspires families to go on adventures together as they learn how to build via hands-on workshops and experiences. In-store workshops include building terrariums and garden baskets, while the club also offers projects that kids can do at home.
