France Joins United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and More Countries in the World Attending at Global Travel Retail Awards on Tuesday 29 September 2026 at the Iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, Extending Early Bird Ticket Deadline

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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July 21, 2026 11:33 PM

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France joins the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and more countries at the Global Travel Retail Awards on 29 September 2026 in Cannes as organisers extend the early bird ticket deadline, giving the global industry more time to attend.

France joins the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and more countries from around the world at the Global Travel Retail Awards on Tuesday 29 September 2026 at the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes. Meanwhile, organisers have extended the early bird ticket deadline, allowing more travel retail professionals, buyers, brands and finalists to secure discounted access before prices rise.

The internationally recognised event, held alongside the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, will celebrate consumer-voted excellence while creating unmatched networking opportunities. As anticipation grows, delegates from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa are preparing to gather in Cannes for the industry’s biggest celebration.

The organisers of the Global Travel Retail Awards 2026 have extended the early bird ticket deadline, giving travel retail professionals, finalists, buyers and industry stakeholders extra time to secure discounted access to one of the sector’s most anticipated annual celebrations. The revised deadline comes in response to the busy summer holiday period and requests from readers seeking additional time to book their places before prices increase.

The prestigious awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 29 September 2026 at the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, coinciding with the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference. The evening will honour the year’s most highly rated travel retail products, brands and initiatives as voted by consumers, while bringing together decision-makers from across the global travel retail industry.

Early Bird Ticket Deadline Extended Until 3 August

Organisers have confirmed that the discounted early bird ticket rate will now remain available until Monday 3 August, providing attendees with several extra weeks to finalise their plans.

The extension reflects the industry’s busy summer travel season, during which many professionals are away on holiday or travelling for business. By allowing more time for bookings, organisers hope to ensure that a wider range of companies and industry representatives can attend the ceremony while benefiting from reduced ticket prices.

The revised deadline is expected to encourage stronger participation from brands, retailers, airport operators, distributors, suppliers and travel retail executives preparing for the annual gathering in Cannes.

Cannes Ceremony Returns Alongside TFWA World Exhibition & Conference

The awards ceremony will once again be staged at Hôtel Martinez, one of Cannes’ best-known luxury venues, on 29 September.

Holding the event alongside the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference allows delegates already attending one of the travel retail industry’s largest annual trade events to participate in the awards celebration without extending their travel schedules.

Each year, the combination of the exhibition and awards creates several days of networking, business meetings, product showcases and industry recognition, attracting participants from every corner of the global duty-free and travel retail marketplace.

The venue is expected to welcome hundreds of professionals representing airports, airlines, cruise operators, retailers, brands, distributors and technology providers.

Consumer Votes Continue to Shape the Awards

Unlike many industry awards judged exclusively by expert panels, the Global Travel Retail Awards are built around consumer feedback.

Travelling shoppers cast votes to identify the products, experiences and initiatives that have delivered the strongest impression during their journeys. This consumer-led approach provides an additional level of credibility by recognising excellence from the perspective of those who ultimately purchase travel retail products.

Winning or receiving a Highly Recommended distinction can therefore carry significant commercial value, as it reflects genuine customer appreciation rather than solely industry opinion.

For brands competing in increasingly competitive duty-free markets, this independent consumer endorsement can strengthen reputation, marketing campaigns and buyer confidence.

Finalists Await the Year’s Biggest Reveal

One of the ceremony’s most anticipated moments will be the announcement of the Highly Recommended and Winner accolades across the various award categories.

Finalists from numerous sectors of the travel retail ecosystem will gather in anticipation of hearing whether their products, services or initiatives have secured top honours.

For many businesses, receiving recognition during the ceremony represents months—or even years—of investment in innovation, customer engagement, sustainability, merchandising and retail excellence.

The awards presentation is expected to feature celebratory moments as winning organisations are invited onto the stage to collect their trophies before an international audience of industry peers.

Networking Opportunities Extend Beyond the Awards

Although the ceremony celebrates achievement, it also serves as one of the industry’s most valuable networking occasions.

Representatives from airports, travel retailers, luxury brands, beauty companies, confectionery producers, beverage suppliers, technology firms and distribution partners are expected to attend.

The event provides opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships, establish new commercial relationships and discuss emerging trends shaping the future of global travel retail.

For newer companies entering the sector, the ceremony also offers valuable exposure among influential buyers and decision-makers responsible for product listings and commercial partnerships across international travel channels.

Buyers Gain Early Insight Into Award-Winning Products

The evening is expected to provide more than recognition for finalists.

Retail buyers attending the ceremony will have the opportunity to identify products and initiatives that consumers have already endorsed through voting.

This insight can prove valuable when making future purchasing decisions or reviewing category strategies, as award-winning products often demonstrate strong consumer appeal within travel retail environments.

By attending the ceremony, buyers can also engage directly with finalists, learn more about their innovations and explore potential commercial opportunities before wider market recognition develops.

Celebrating Innovation Across the Travel Retail Industry

The Global Travel Retail Awards continue to highlight innovation across every segment of the travel retail landscape.

Categories typically showcase achievements spanning luxury goods, beauty, fragrances, spirits, confectionery, fashion accessories, technology solutions, customer experience, sustainability initiatives and retail innovation.

Recognition through these awards encourages businesses to continue investing in product quality, passenger engagement and operational excellence.

As competition intensifies across airports, cruise terminals, border stores and other travel retail locations, industry recognition increasingly plays an important role in differentiating brands within crowded marketplaces.

Industry Anticipation Builds Ahead of September

With the early bird deadline now extended, anticipation is expected to grow over the coming weeks as more attendees confirm their participation.

The ceremony promises to combine celebration, networking and industry recognition in one evening while reflecting the evolving priorities of global travel retail.

Organisers have once again congratulated all finalists and expressed their enthusiasm for welcoming guests to Cannes for what is expected to be a memorable celebration.

The extended booking window offers companies that had not yet secured tickets another opportunity to attend before standard pricing takes effect.

A Key Date for the Global Travel Retail Calendar

The Global Travel Retail Awards 2026 continue to reinforce their position as one of the industry’s signature events by recognising excellence through direct consumer voting while bringing together the international travel retail community.

With the awards taking place during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, attendance provides both commercial and professional value, allowing delegates to combine networking, business development and celebration within a single visit to Cannes.

The extension of the early bird ticket deadline until 3 August gives industry professionals additional flexibility to plan their attendance and benefit from discounted rates. As finalists prepare for the announcement of the Highly Recommended and Winner honours, buyers, suppliers and travel retail leaders will also be looking ahead to an evening that celebrates innovation, strengthens business relationships and highlights the products and initiatives that have resonated most strongly with travelling consumers. The September ceremony is expected to once again underline the importance of customer-driven recognition in shaping the future of global travel retail while providing a prestigious platform for excellence across the industry’s diverse ecosystem.

The early bird ticket deadline has been extended because many travel retail professionals requested additional booking time during the busy summer holiday period. The decision answers growing demand from finalists, buyers, suppliers and international delegates who wanted greater flexibility before confirming their attendance. As a result, more participants from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and numerous other countries can secure discounted tickets while planning their visit to Cannes. The extension also supports stronger international participation, encourages wider industry representation and ensures the Global Travel Retail Awards continues to bring together the world’s leading travel retail businesses under one prestigious roof.

The Global Travel Retail Awards continues to strengthen its position as one of the travel retail industry’s most prestigious annual events by bringing together professionals from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and many more countries for an evening dedicated to celebrating consumer-voted excellence. Scheduled for Tuesday 29 September 2026 at the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, the ceremony will once again coincide with the globally recognised TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, creating an ideal setting for networking, collaboration and industry recognition.

By extending the early bird ticket deadline, organisers have provided additional flexibility for companies and delegates managing busy travel schedules during the summer holiday season. The move allows more finalists, retailers, airport operators, distributors, suppliers and international buyers to benefit from discounted rates while ensuring they do not miss one of the sector’s most significant gatherings.

Beyond recognising outstanding products and initiatives, the ceremony serves as an influential meeting point where commercial relationships are strengthened, new partnerships are formed and buyers gain early insight into consumer-approved innovations. The awards’ unique voting process, driven by travelling shoppers, further enhances the credibility and value of every accolade presented during the evening.

As excitement continues to build, attendance from countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Africa is expected to reinforce the truly global character of the event. With additional time now available to secure early bird tickets, industry leaders have another opportunity to join the celebrations in Cannes, connect with international peers and witness the announcement of the 2026 winners. The extended deadline ensures even broader participation in an event that continues to shape conversations and recognise excellence across the worldwide travel retail industry.