Architects, designers, investors, developers and politicians from across the world have descended on Cannes for MIPIM – the world’s largest property market.

Over 20,000 attendees are expected to at the four-day exhibition, conference and networking event, which begins today (14 March) on the French Riviera.

Major international real estate projects – from residential to commercial, hotel, tourism and logistical – are being showcased by representatives from 23 nations.

These include the refurbishment of historic monuments in Kyoto into a new Park Hyatt hotel, the creation of a “state-of-the-art” scientific and technology park on the 2015 Expo site in Milan, and a new “cultural garden suburb” on Liverpool’s International Festival Garden site by the River Mersey.

A selection of the projects can be viewed here.

Exhibitions will also explore the innovative, sustainable solutions being used to create smart cities in countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, France and the Scandinavian nations.

Networking sessions will be held to sow the seeds for future large-scale collaborations. According to media reports in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai developer Nakheel has headed to France with US$1.6bn (€1.5bn, £1.3bn) worth of real estate to target international investors – including land plots for commercial, and hotel developments.

Architects in attendance include 3XN partner Kasper Guldager Jensen, MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas and White Arkitekter CEO Monica von Schmalensee, all of whom will be delivering talks.

Finally, on 16 March, the MIPIM Awards 2017 will be held, celebrating major real estate projects in categories such as Best Hotel and Tourism Resort, Best urban Regeneration Project and Best Futura Mega Project.