MIPCOM 2026: Spies, Romance and Vertical Drama
Spy thrillers, family dramas and dating formats go on sale in Cannes as MIPCOM, the world's largest television trade fair, runs Oct. 12-15, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The market is a shop floor for television. Broadcasters, streamers and producers buy and sell the rights to finished shows and new ideas. The 2026 edition is held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, listed by MIPCOM Cannes, and is expected to draw more than 10,000 executives, reported by Media Play News.
Fox Entertainment Global president Prentiss Fraser told the trade that "something feels inherently different this year." The preview points to three shifts. Phone-first vertical dramas, short episodes made to be watched upright on a mobile, are moving from experiment to mainstream. AI-generated content is edging into production pipelines. YouTube is described as the clear winner of the video wars.
Spies lead the scripted slate. 'Legacy of Spies' is an eight-part adaptation starring Matthew Macfadyen as George Smiley, the quiet intelligence officer created by John le Carre. It draws on novels including 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold' and 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', with Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Laurie, Dan Stevens, Joe Alwyn and Daniel Bruhl in support. It was commissioned by the BBC in the U.K. and MGM+ in the U.S., with sales handled by Fifth Season.
'The Interrogator' was created by and stars Stephen Fry as a former MI6 agent leading a team of outsiders. It co-stars Luke Kleintank and Jenna Elfman. It was commissioned by Fox in the U.S., with sales by Lionsgate Television.
British drama 'Adultery' stars Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai as a couple whose affair threatens two families. The six-part drama was created and written by Danny Brocklehurst. It was commissioned by ITV and STV in the U.K., with sales by ITV Studios. 'Meatballs', an eight-part adaptation starring Robbie G.K. and Maddie Phillips, was commissioned by Crave in Canada, with sales by Sphere Abacus. On the unscripted side, dating format 'Date Knight' was commissioned by DR in Denmark, with sales by Banijay Entertainment.
The conference programme underlines the business themes. Sessions listed by MIPCOM Cannes include The Big AI Keynote with Utopai Studios featuring Cecilia Shen, Ken Oh and Cynthia Littleton, and Redefining Broadcast: The RTL + YouTube Partnership with Pedro Pina, Stephan Schmitter and Evan Shapiro. Other sessions include Banijay Entertainment: The Next Chapter with Jeff Zucker and Marco Bassetti, a MIPCOM Cannes x Variety Vanguard Award session with Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria, and Sports IP: The Next Chapter with Paul Martin of Box to Box Films.
What makes this stand out for viewers at home is the mix. Long espionage adaptations sit beside shows built for a phone screen. Deals signed in Cannes decide what gets funded, dubbed and scheduled far beyond France.
