Cannes Film Festival 2026
The world’s most famous film festival – Festival de Cannes – will be taking place on the French Riviera from Tuesday 12 May to Saturday 23 May 2026.
The Côte d’Azur beach resort town of Cannes is transformed into a city of cinema for 11 days, as it has been for nearly eight decades. This year is the 79th edition.
The Cannes Film Festival is more than just a film festival — it’s a cultural institution with a dazzling showcase of cinematic delights, fabulous fashions and luxury yachts that cruise into port to host parties and meetings.
This year the iconic Palais des Festivals et des Congrès will announce its lineup of world premieres on Thursday 9 April. (One of last year’s special screenings was Tom Cruise’s final Mission Impossible). Festival goers will be able to watch films from both established auteurs and rising talent, entered In and Out of Competition. Films from across the globe will be competing for the coveted Palme d’Or, which is selected from the festival’s Jury. UPDATE: The 2026 Official Selection for the Cannes Film Festival has been announced.
Beyond the official selection, the festival’s famed Marché du Film (market place for film) will welcome industry insiders from over 100 countries — a reminder that Cannes is not just about art, but also serious business.
If you don’t have a ticket for the festival or the market, you can still stroll the Croisette to catch a glimpse of the stars, or just watch the passersby and soak up the atmosphere. There’s always something going on from street artists to film promos.
For those lucky enough to be in town, the buzz extends far beyond the screenings. Private soirées in hillside villas, rooftop cocktails, and brand takeovers of legendary hotels like the Carlton and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc make Cannes the ultimate Riviera rendezvous.
P.S. For festival goers from abroad who usually extend their visit to attend the Monaco Grand Prix, which traditionally takes place on the Sunday after the film festival’s closing ceremony, this year the F1 race will be taking place in early June instead.
