Macé beach in Cannes has been renamed Plage Brigitte Bardot, in honour of the film actress who passed away in December 2025. The official ceremony fittingly took place during the Cannes Film Festival, where the screen icon had been such a popular presence during her movie career.
The beautiful wide open, sandy beach is Cannes’ largest public beach. It’s located on the Croisette close to the famous Palais des Festivals et des Congrès where stars walk the red carpet, and is beside the private Majestic Beach.
Brigitte Bardot Beach open to dogs outside of summer
As part of the tribute to Bardot, dogs will now be allowed on the beach outside of the summer season, from 1 November to 1 May, “in recognition of the lifelong campaign she waged for animal welfare through her Foundation”, Cannes Tourism said.
Bardot’s widower Bernard d’Ormale, who is president of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, was present at the inauguration on Monday 18 May 2026.
“We warmly thank David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes, for this wonderful tribute,” said d’Ormale. “With this inauguration, Cannes, a city of cinema, honours both the world-renowned actress and the pioneer in animal rights.”
Festival de Cannes president, Iris Knobloch, and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, also attended the renaming of the beach.
During the Festival de Cannes, the beach hosts the popular Cinema de la Plage films, screened at night, and open to the public. On the night of the renaming, organisers played a Brigitte Bardot film – Viva Maria! (directed by Louis Malle in 1965).
The change of name from Mace Beach to Brigitte Bardot was initiated by the Cannes Town Hall, with the mayor called Bardot “a symbol of freedom”.
Another coastal town on the French Riviera – Nice – has also renamed one of its beaches after Brigitte Bardot since her passing. Meanwhile, in Bardot’s hometown of Saint-Tropez, film fans are making a pilgrimage to visit the grave of the actress and humanitarian.
