On January 9, 2026, the Palais des Festivals in Cannes will open its doors to the first edition of the Festival International des Lys d’Or, an event imagined and founded by Nora Simon to honor coaching, well-being, and the many paths of human transformation. More than a ceremony, the festival is conceived as a platform for recognition, dialogue, and transmission.
Bringing together speakers, artists, jurors, and an international audience, the Festival International des Lys d’Or positions Cannes as a meeting point for conversations around mental health, resilience, and conscious leadership. The initiative responds to a growing need for visibility for professions and journeys that support reconstruction and personal evolution.
“The Festival International des Lys d’Or was created to give visibility to those who accompany others through profound inner change. Cannes, with its symbolic power, allows these stories to resonate on a global stage,” says Nora Simon.
A Ceremony Built Around Meaning and Symbolism
The opening of the festival will be marked by a symbolic ascent of the red carpet. Survivors of life-altering experiences will walk alongside the professionals who guided them through recovery and transformation. This shared movement will embody the spirit of the event: collective recognition rather than individual glory.
For one evening, the Palais des Festivals will become a space for lived experiences, sincere dialogue, and committed initiatives focused on healing and resilience.
Conferences, Art, and Testimonies
The evening will begin with a curated welcome designed to immerse guests in the values of the festival. Tutu Prestige hostesses will be present, carrying a message centered on body acceptance and physical transformation.
The opening ceremony will blend spirituality and music, guided by Isabella Vieira, a shaman, accompanied by the Chorale du Sud.
Nora Simon will then deliver the founding conference, inspired by her forthcoming book Run, Nora, Run. Drawing from personal experience, she will address trauma, survival, reconstruction, and feminine resilience, setting the narrative framework for the evening.
A series of testimonies will follow, including:
- Paul Fontaine, sharing his life with cystic fibrosis and the strength drawn from adversity.
- Jean-Baptiste, reflecting on transformation through sport and Paralympic commitment.
- Madonna, recounting the reemergence of memories after traumatic amnesia.
These stories will be interwoven with artistic performances curated by Diamant School, with a musical interlude by Grégory Bacchion, inspired by great composers and a tribute collaboration around Charles Aznavour.
Coach Transformation Awards
At the heart of the evening, the Coach Transformation Awards will recognize excellence in seven categories:
- Health and Vitality
- Emotional Transformation
- Resilience and Trauma
- Conscious Leadership
- Parenting and Education
- Awakening and Humanism
- Self-Taught Excellence
The ceremony will be hosted by television presenter Alicia Fall, with Angela De Nova serving as patron of the festival. A special honorary distinction, the Golden Lily of Female Courage, will be awarded to a woman whose journey embodies strength, dignity, and impact.
“This award honors not success, but the courage to rise and illuminate others,” notes the founder.
A Vision Rooted in Personal Commitment
The Festival International des Lys d’Or is an extension of the mission carried by the Lumière de Femmes association, founded by Nora Simon. The organization supports women seeking healing, meaning, and empowerment through transmission and collective unity.
In Run, Nora, Run, Nora Simon shares her own story of recovery after multiple traumas and family violence, a journey shaped by sport, spirituality, psychotherapy, and coaching. This personal path gave birth to the festival and its ambition: to bring human transformation into the spotlight.
An Evening of Encounters
The festival will conclude with a cocktail reception, encouraging exchanges between guests, speakers, ambassadors, and cultural influencers. Official photographs and informal discussions will extend the experience beyond the ceremony.
The full program, detailed schedule, and practical information are available on the festival’s official website.
