On January 9, 2026, the Palais des Festivals in Cannes will host the first edition of the Festival International des Lys d’Or, an event founded by Nora Simon and dedicated to coaching, well-being, and human transformation. Conceived as a space for recognition and transmission, the evening will bring together conferences, personal testimonies, artistic performances, and an awards ceremony.
The Festival International des Lys d’Or, created by Nora Simon, will welcome a diverse audience from different backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to mental health, resilience, and personal development. The festival aims to highlight professionals and life journeys that play a key role in human transformation but often remain unseen.
“The Festival International des Lys d’Or was born from a conviction: to honor those who illuminate the paths of transformation. Cannes naturally stood out as the ideal setting. Beyond distinctions, we want to create encounters, transmission, and shared emotion,” says Nora Simon.
A Symbolic Opening Dedicated to Resilience
The red carpet ascent will take on a strong symbolic dimension. Individuals who have faced profound personal challenges will walk the steps alongside the professionals who supported them. This shared gesture will mark the opening of an event designed as a collective moment of recognition and dialogue around mental health, resilience, and supportive practices.
For one evening, the Palais des Festivals will become a space devoted to life stories, personal journeys, and initiatives committed to healing and transformation.
An Immersive and Inspiring Program
The evening will begin with a prestige welcome in an immersive atmosphere. Guests, finalists, jurors, artists, and partners will be received by Tutu Prestige hostesses, conveying a message of body acceptance and physical transformation.
The opening ceremony will unfold with a spiritual and musical tone, led by Isabella Vieira, a shaman, accompanied by the Chorale du Sud.
The keynote address will be delivered by Nora Simon, inspired by her forthcoming book Run, Nora, Run. Her talk will explore trauma, survival, reconstruction, healing, and female resilience, setting the tone for the evening and introducing the personal testimonies to follow.
Among the speakers:
- Paul Fontaine, sharing a life journey shaped by cystic fibrosis.
- Jean-Baptiste, reflecting on a path built through sport and Paralympic commitment.
- Madonna, recounting the recovery of a buried memory following traumatic amnesia.
Additional testimonies will explore themes of rebirth, resilience, and transformation.
Artistic interludes will punctuate the evening, with singers and performers accompanying the narratives. Artistic coordination will be led by Diamant School, while Grégory Bacchion will present a musical performance inspired by great composers, including a tribute collaboration around Charles Aznavour.
The Coach Transformation Awards
A central highlight of the evening will be the Coach Transformation Awards, presented as part of the Festival International des Lys d’Or. Finalists and jurors will be introduced, and the Transformation Award will be presented.
Television host Alicia Fall will serve as mistress of ceremonies, with Angela De Nova as patron of the evening.
Awards will be presented across seven categories:
- Health and Vitality
- Emotional Transformation
- Resilience and Trauma
- Conscious Leadership
- Parenting and Education
- Awakening and Humanism
- Self-Taught Excellence
A special honorary distinction, the Golden Lily of Female Courage, will recognize a woman whose life journey reflects a major ordeal and an inspiring commitment.
“This award does not celebrate victory, but the light of those who have risen again.”
A Festival Born from a Personal Journey
The Festival International des Lys d’Or is rooted in the work of the Lumière de Femmes association, founded by Nora Simon. The organization brings together women seeking meaning, healing, and empowerment, guided by values of transmission, compassion, and unity.
In Run, Nora, Run, Nora Simon recounts her own journey marked by multiple traumas and family violence, and her path of reconstruction through sport, spirituality, psychotherapy, and coaching. This personal story led to the creation of the festival and the desire to honor those committed to human transformation.
Closing Moments
The evening will conclude with a cocktail reception, offering space for meaningful exchanges among guests, ambassadors, influencers, and participants. Official photographs and informal conversations will extend the experience beyond the ceremony.
The full program, schedule, and practical information are available on the festival’s official website.
