Iconic artist Barbra Streisand will receive an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival during the Awards Ceremony on Saturday 23 May 2026, the Festival de Cannes announced today. This will be the prolific actor, director, producer, screenwriter, singer and songwriter’s first appearance at the famous French festival.
The award is in recognition of Streisand’s phenomenal career which spans decades. The world-famous star embodies the American dream, said the Festival, and bridges the gap between the stage and screen
Streisand had dreamed of being an actress since she was a child, but out of necessity she turned to singing first. Determined, passionate and with buckets of charisma, the perfectionist was already a stand-out in cabarets by the age of 18. At 20 she made her Broadway stage debut. At 21 she released her first music album, and at 26 she stepped in front of the camera in Funny Girl and scooped her first Oscar.
On hearing that she is to be presented with the honorary Palme d’Or in Cannes, Streisand said: “It is with a sense of pride and deep humility, that I’m honoured to join the company of past Honorary Palme d’or recipients whose work has long inspired me.”
Previous recipients include Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Tom Cruise. New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson will also receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, at the opening ceremony on Tuesday 12 May 2026.
Cannes Festival Director Thierry Frémaux said in a press release: “A global star, Barbra Streisand is above all an artist, initiating projects that reflect who she is, that are her own and that she shares with the whole world. She is the legendary synthesis between Broadway and Hollywood, between the music hall stage and the big screen. Hearing her sing and seeing her perform are part of our best years.”
Streisand said: “In these challenging times, movies have the ability to open our hearts and minds to stories that reflect our shared humanity, and to perspectives that remind us of both our fragility and our resilience. Cinema transcends borders and politics, and affirms the power of imagination to shape a more compassionate world.”
Highlights of Barbra Streisand’s career:
- 19 roles on the big screen including Hello, Dolly! (1969), A Star Is Born (1976), The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), For Pete’s Sake (1974), Meet the Fockers (2003), Nuts (1987), The Way We Were (1973).
- 3 directorial credits
- 2 Oscars
- First woman to win Best Original Song (1977)
- 11 Golden Globes
- First woman to win Best Director (1984)
- 37 studio albums, 13 soundtracks and 10 Grammy Awards
- The only artist to reach number one in album sales for six consecutive decades
- Female artist with the most number 1 albums of all time until Taylor Swift in 2023
- Her mezzo-soprano voice spans two octaves
Powerful, free, independent, extravagant, a role model and unconventional are just some of the words used to describe Streisand.
Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes, revealed: “This year, we were keen to pay tribute to an artist who made her mark through the power of her art and her uncompromising pursuit of freedom. As a woman, I am delighted to be able to express our admiration for this consummate creator and courageous citizen, whose example stands the test of time and continues to inspire.”
The press release also highlighted Streisand’s commitment to causes from supporting women’s heart health with her center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute to other issues including through the Streisand Foundation created in 1986: gender and minority equality, defending LGBTQ+ rights, protecting the environment, medical research, and arts education for disadvantaged children.
The Festival de Cannes said it is “particularly proud to welcome the legendary Funny Girl to La Croisette for the first time: Hello, Gorgeous!”
The 79th CANNES FILM FESTIVAL will take place from Tuesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 23, 2026.
