79th Edition · French Riviera
Cannes Film Festival 2026
Your complete guide to the world’s most prestigious cinema event –
jury, Palm d’Or contenders, red carpet, schedule, and how to watch.
- May 12-23, 2026
- Cannes, France
- 22 films in competition
- Updated May 15, 2026
Table of Contents
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 is finally here, it bringing all the glamour from Hollywood to International cinema’s movies back to the French Riviera. The event running from May 12 to May 23, 2026, this 79th Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be one of its most diverse and international years yet.
This year 22 Films are battling for the Palme d’Or 2026, and a red carpet full with both Hollywood stars and international cinema stars, Cannes 2026 is already creating a kind of hype that will define the upcoming awards season.
Quick Summary
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 (79th edition) runs May 12–23 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. Jury president: Park Chan-wook. Opening film: La Vénus Électrique. Palme d’Or winner to be announced May 23.
Cannes Film Festival 2026: Dates, Venue & Key Facts
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 is happening right at its usual place: the famous Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on the Croisette in Cannes, France. It’s the exact same venue that has been celebrating movies for nearly 80 years.
But this 12-day event is little more than just a place to watch movies. It also hosts the Marché du Film, which is the biggest movie market in the world. Thousands of directors, producers, distributors, and journalists gather here to decide where the future of global cinema is headed.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival officially held on the evening of May 12, 2026, with the world premiere of Pierre Salvadori’s film, La Vénus Électrique (The Electric Kiss), giving the start of this festival a poetic French vibe. Everything will be eneded up with the closing ceremony on May 23, 2026, which will be broadcast live around the world, and that’s when we’ll find out who wins the highly anticipated Palme d’Or 2026.
79th Cannes Film Festival Jury: Who Decides the Palme d'Or?
The Cannes 2026 jury is led by South Korean Director Park Chan-wook, he previously won the Grand Prix for Oldboy and Best Director for Decision to Leave.
This is the first time in the history that there are no French jurors on the main competition panel. It’s a bold statement that shows how committed Cannes is to a truly global cinema conversation.
Park Chan-wook
Jury President · South Korean Filmmaker
Demi Moore
Actress & Producer · USA
Chloé Zhao
Director (Nomadland) · China/USA
Ruth Negga
Actress · Ireland / Ethiopia
Stellan Skarsgård
Actor · Sweden
Laura Wandel
Director · Belgium
Diego Céspedes
Director · Chile
Isaach De Bankolé
Actor · Côte d'Ivoire / USA
Paul Laverty
Screenwriter (Ken Loach collaborator) · Scotland
At the closing ceremony on May 23, the 79th Cannes Film Festival jury will announce some of the biggest awards in cinema, including the Palme d’Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor.
Because the panel is international and diverse, the discussions will be interesting. It looks like they’ll be balancing bold, artsy filmmaking right alongside movies that have a more mainstream appeal.
Palme d'Or 2026: Films in Competition
Beyoncé
Olivier Rousteing (Independent)
The Man I Love
Dir. Ira Sachs · USA — Rami Malek
Bitter Christmas
Dir. Pedro Almodóvar · Spain — World premiere pre-festival
Fatherland
Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski · Poland/Germany
Club Kid
Starring Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva
Parallel Tales
Dir. Asghar Farhadi — 7-minute standing ovation
La Vie D'Une Femme
Featuring Gillian Anderson
Butterfly Jam
Dir. Kantemir Balagov — Un Certain Regard opener
Cannes 2026 Red Carpet: Fashion & Celebrity Highlights
The Cannes 2026 red carpet is already showing off some of the best fashion of the year. On opening night, the jury members showed up in amazing outfits at Palais des Festivals. Ruth Negga wore a custom Dior dress with Chopard jewelry, and Leïla Bekhti wore a Schiaparelli corset top that everyone was trying to get a picture of on the Croisette.
Hollywood legends Jane Fonda and Dame Joan Collins brought their classic style to the event. Plus, Peter Jackson got an Honorary Palme d’Or from his longtime movie partner Elijah Wood, which was a super emotional moment that made everyone stand up and cheer.
For the clothes, Hannah Einbinder wore Celine, and Gillian Anderson looked amazing in two different Miu Miu dresses during the first few days. Also, big Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, and Aditi Rao Hydari added plenty of extra glamour to the Cannes 2026 red carpet celebrities list.
White Lotus Season 4 at Cannes
Happening at the exact same time as the Cannes Film Festival 2026 is a pretty cool pop-culture moment. HBO is actually filming Season 4 of The White Lotus right on the Croisette! The new season takes place right inside the actual festival.
The show’s creator, Mike White, loves to make fun of super-rich people, so this is the perfect spot for his show. We’ll just have to wait and see if the cast gets to walk up the famous steps!
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Cannes Film Festival 2026 Schedule Overview
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 schedule is running across 12 days of intensive screenings, masterclasses, press conferences, and market meetings. Here is how the event broadly unfolds:
Week One (May 12–16): Opening & Major Premieres
The first week of the 79th Cannes Film Festival is all about showing big new movies first time. Every night, stars walk the red carpet for screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. In the mornings, the Palais des Festivals is full with reporters for watching the films, while the Marché du Film movie market is busy at the exact same time.
The main Competition also started this week at the Carlton Hotel. Now in its third year, people experience nine cool, high-tech projects from eight different countries.
Week Two (May 17–23): Jury Deliberations & Awards
As the second week of Cannes 2026 gets started, the jury is enters into its most important phase where they have to decide who wins. While they think it over, other parts of the festival like Un Certain Regard, Critics’ Week, and Directors’ Fortnight are still showing brand-new movies.
Everything work up to the closing ceremony on May 23. That is when the Palme d’Or 2026 winner will be announced, along with the winners for the Grand Prix, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Jury Prize, and Best Screenplay. You can watch the whole thing live from anywhere in the world!
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How to Watch Cannes Film Festival 2026 Online
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Cannes Film Festival 2026?
The 79th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026, on the French Riviera in Cannes, France. The closing ceremony and Palme d’Or announcement is scheduled for May 23, 2026.
Who is the jury president of Cannes Film Festival 2026?
South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, acclaimed director of Oldboy and Decision to Leave, is the jury president of the 79th Cannes Film Festival 2026. He leads a nine-member international jury.
How many films compete for the Palme d'Or in 2026?
A total of 22 films are competing for the Palme d’Or 2026 at the Cannes Film Festival. These films represent directors from three continents and include five female directors in the main competition, selected from 2,541 submissions.
Who received the Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026?
Director Peter Jackson received the Honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2026. The award was presented by his longtime collaborator Elijah Wood.
How can I watch Cannes Film Festival 2026 online?
Which Indian celebrities are attending Cannes 2026?
Several Bollywood celebrities are gracing the Cannes 2026 red carpet, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, and Aditi Rao Hydari. Punjabi star Ammy Virk and Marathi actor Ashok Saraf are also representing Indian cinema at the Cannes Film Festival 2026.
What is the Marché du Film at Cannes 2026?
The Marché du Film (Film Market) at Cannes 2026 is the world’s largest film market, running alongside the main festival from May 12–23. It is where filmmakers, producers, distributors, and industry professionals buy and sell rights to films from around the world, making it the commercial engine behind the artistic celebration.
What film opened the Cannes Film Festival 2026?
Pierre Salvadori’s La Vénus Électrique (The Electric Kiss) served as the opening film of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2026, premiering on the red carpet alongside the official opening ceremony.
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Image Credits
Jane Fonda Photo by Gabriel Hutchinson — Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Joan Collins Photo by Gabriel Hutchinson — Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Gillian Anderson Photo by Gabriel Hutchinson — Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Alia Bhatt Photo by Georges Biard — Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 4.0
