Thirty years on, MAPIC still draws the international retail real estate community to Cannes. The setting remains glamorous, the conversations global, and the connections valuable. Yet this anniversary edition felt more introspective – a reflection, perhaps, of an industry in transition and a fair in search of a new rhythm.
A Market Between Disruption and Reinvention
Retail has rarely faced such a complex set of challenges. Shifting consumer expectations, economic uncertainty, the sustainability imperative, online competition, and now the rapid advance of artificial intelligence – all demand fresh thinking. The traditional playbook no longer applies.
That reality was palpable at MAPIC 2025, held on November 4–5 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Organiser RX France adapted the format to these new conditions, positioning the event under the slogan “The International Retail Leasing Hub.”
The exhibition was more compact, with an added networking area on the first floor and new stages for discussion and content: the Trends Stage and New Business Stage. Both aimed to encourage dialogue rather than spectacle – a shift from presentation to participation.
This evolution continued on November 6 with the invitation-only NextGen Retail Day, where top executives exchanged ideas with students. Jonathan Doughty, Managing Director at Viklari, described it as “the most inspiring takeaway from MAPIC,” highlighting the need for genuine exchange across generations.
A More Compact Fair – and a Divided Response
Reactions to the streamlined concept were mixed. Leading players such as ECE, INGKA, SES, and Sierra Sonae reported steady visitor traffic and productive meetings. Smaller exhibitors, however, struggled with visibility and noted fewer spontaneous encounters.
Some argued that the reduced scale allowed for more focused conversations – “quality over quantity,” as one participant put it. Others had expected a livelier atmosphere, particularly given the fair’s 30th anniversary and the organiser’s promise of a special edition.
Criticism also centered on the underrepresentation of food & beverage and leisure concepts, despite their acknowledged importance in the evolution of shopping destinations. One exhibitor from the F&B sector commented:
“Being here as a developing retailer hasn’t triggered much differentiation, although it’s exactly what the market needs more of. Not so much a place to find partners, but still a valuable space to maintain networks.”
The overall mood was one of cautious engagement: businesslike, quieter, but not without substance. Those who came with a clear purpose – networking, reconnecting, exploring trends – left with something valuable. Yet few would describe this year’s MAPIC as vibrant.
Celebrating Leadership and Legacy
The fair concluded with the MAPIC Awards Ceremony, which took on extra significance in the fair’s 30th year. Alongside the traditional awards, five industry leaders were honored with “Pioneers of Places Awards” for their long-standing contributions to retail real estate: Maurice Bansay (APSYS), Chadatip Chutrakul (Siam Piwat), Philippe Journo (Compagnie de Phalsbourg), Alexander Otto (ECE Group), and Alain Taravella (ALTAREA).
Zara was recognized as the “Most Influential Retail Brand of the Past 30 Years,” while Westfield London received the title “Most Influential Retail Property Project of the Past 30 Years.” The ceremony, held in the Palais des Festivals, provided a fitting reminder of the industry’s achievements – and the individuals who have shaped its modern identity.
For more information on the MAPIC Awards 2025 click here.
Reflection and Renewal
MAPIC’s 30th edition may not have delivered fireworks, but perhaps that was never the point. The fair’s quieter tone seemed to echo the mood of an industry ready to reflect, recalibrate, and rediscover its purpose.
Retail real estate has entered a new era – one that rewards agility, creativity, and collaboration more than scale or spectacle. The days of “build it and they will come” are over; now, the task is to create places and experiences that truly resonate.
If MAPIC 2025 proved anything, it is that the industry still has the capacity to adapt. The conversations in Cannes – sometimes hesitant, often hopeful – showed that amid uncertainty, there remains a shared belief in reinvention.
Because every challenge, once understood, can become the starting point for something new.
Peter Sempelmann
Editor-in-Chief ACROSS
