Your Complete Cannes Film Festival 2026 Events Guide, Red Carpet Premieres & VIP Packages
May 7, 2026
Your Complete Guide To the 79th Festival de Cannes, Red-Carpet Schedule- Key Events and the Ultimate Red Carpet Package
Cannes Film Festival is one of the world's most widely publicized festivals and the most important in terms of worldwide impact. Carried by its 78 editions, it has never stopped renewing itself. Through the works, artists, and themes it platforms over the course of its 12-day lineup. Cannes Film Festival lands at its 79th edition as vital and unmissable as ever. Over twelve days on the French Riviera, the entire film world; Directors, stars, producers, distributors gather to debut their films and compete for the highest honors in cinema.
This year, Park Chan-Wook heads the Competition Jury, marking a historic first for Korean cinema at Cannes. Eye Haïdara takes the stage as Maîtresse de Cérémonie for both the Opening and Closing nights, bringing to Cannes the same singular presence she imposed on screen in Le Sens de la fête back in 2017.
The Closing Awards Ceremony on May 23 will honor two legends: Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson each receive an honorary Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement. The full competition selection was revealed on April 9, and anticipation is already mounting over which title will claim the 2026 Palme d'Or.
Key Dates
May 12, 2026 – Marché du Film Opens | The world's largest film market kicks off one day ahead of the festival at the Palais des Festivals, running through May 20.
May 12, 2026 – Opening Ceremony & First Competition Screenings | The 79th Festival de Cannes officially opens at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, Palais des Festivals, Cannes.
May 21, 2026 – La Cinef Prizes | The Short Film and La Cinef Jury announces the film school prizes at the Buñuel Theatre, followed immediately by a screening of the winning films.
May 22, 2026 – Un Certain Regard Awards Ceremony | Winners are announced by the jury of this selection at the Debussy Theatre.
May 23, 2026 – Closing Ceremony & Palme d'Or Award | The 2026 Palme d'Or is awarded on the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière, broadcast live and exclusively on France 2, co-produced by France Télévisions and Brut. Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson receive their honorary Palmes d'Or during the same ceremony.
Festival Structure
The 79th edition runs its full program across the Palais des Festivals and the Croisette's iconic venues, divided into official and parallel sections:
🎥 Official Sections
In Competition
The most prestigious section, where 21 films compete directly for the Palme d'Or, , with world premieres screening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. This year's competition is dominated by international auteurs. Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, and Paweł Pawlikowski among them, alongside the only American director in the race, Ira Sachs, with The Man I Love starring Rami Malek and Rebecca Hall.
Un Certain Regard
A platform for distinctive and emerging filmmakers. presided this year by jury president Leïla Bekhti. The 2026 selection of 15 films opens with Jane Schoenbrun's Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson. Other titles include Jordan Firstman's directorial debut Club Kid, featuring Cara Delevingne and Diego Calva, and Yukiko Sode's All the Lovers in the Night. The section also notably includes the first-ever film by a Rwandan director in the Cannes official selection: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo's Ben'imana.
Out of Competition
High-profile works that screen outside the race, including Andy Garcia's crime thriller Diamond starring Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman, and Nicolas Winding Refn's Her Private Hell.
Cannes Première
A space for established directors whose new films resist easy categorization. This year's highlights include John Travolta's directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach, an Apple Original screening ahead of its May 29 release, with Travolta confirmed in attendance.
Midnight Screenings
Genre cinema for late-night audiences, with Quentin Dupieux's Full Phil starring Kristen Stewart and Woody Harrelson, Yeon Sang-ho's (Train to Busan) sci-fi thriller Colony, and Bertrand Mandico's Roma Elastica.
Special Screenings
Documentaries and politically charged films, including Steven Soderbergh's John Lennon: The Last Interview and Ron Howard's Avedon.
Cannes Classics
Restorations and retrospectives of landmark cinema, screening at the Salle du Soixantième. The 2026 selection will be announced in early May.
Immersive Competition
Now in its third edition, Cannes' commitment to XR, VR, holographic storytelling, and works merging AI with cinematic tradition continues to grow. Last year's winner, Remember This Place, is now exhibited at MoMA.
🎬 Parallel Sections
Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cinéastes)
An independent parallel section championing free-form and avant-garde cinema, running May 13–23 at the Théâtre Croisette. The 58th edition opens with Butterfly Jam, the English-language debut of Russian director Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole), starring Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, and Monica Bellucci. French filmmaker Claire Denis receives the honorary Carrosse d'Or at the Opening Ceremony. Other highlights include Clarissa by the Esiri brothers, a reimagining of Mrs Dalloway starring Sophie Okonedo, Ayo Edebiri, and David Oyelowo, and Quentin Dupieux's animated closing film Le Vertige, his second film at this year's festival. 19 feature films from 19 countries across 5 continents were selected from 1,800 submissions.
Directors' Fortnight - Cannes Film Festival 2026
Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique)
Dedicated entirely to first and second features, running at the Miramar. The 65th edition opens with In Waves by Phuong Mai Nguyen, the first time in the section's history that an animated feature serves as opening film. From a record 1,050 submissions, 11 films were selected, nine of them first features eligible for the Caméra d'Or.
ACID
Radical, low-budget work from outside the mainstream, with 6 fiction films and 3 documentaries selected for the 2026 edition.
Star Power on the Croisette
The White Lotus Season 4- Hollywood comes to the Croisette
HBO's White Lotus Season 4 is set during the Cannes Film Festival itself, filming at the iconic Hôtel Martinez on the Croisette and the Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez. The entire cast is expected on the ground during the festival's second week and confirmed to walk the red carpet. The main cast includes Helena Bonham Carter, Vincent Cassel, Steve Coogan, Kumail Nanjiani, Chris Messina, Alexander Ludwig, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, and Corentin Fila, with additional cast including Rosie Perez, Heather Graham, Sandra Bernhard, Frida Gustavsson, and Laura Smet.
The Most Anticipated Premieres
While Cannes 2026 is lighter on Hollywood studio presence than recent editions, several films in the official selection are bringing genuine international star power to the Croisette.
The most anticipated premiere in terms of celebrity wattage is Hope by Na Hong-jin, the South Korean director's English-language debut, a sci-fi thriller starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hoyeon, and Taylor Russell. Ira Sachs' The Man I Love, the only American film in competition, brings Rami Malek and Rebecca Hall to the Grand Théâtre Lumière for what promises to be one of the most talked-about red carpet moments of the week.
Asghar Farhadi's Histoires Parallèles assembles a cast that reads like a who's who of French and European cinema: Vincent Cassel, Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve, and Virginie Efira. Rodrigo Sorogoyen's El Ser Querido brings Javier Bardem back to the Croisette, while La Bola Negra by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi features a confirmed cameo from Penélope Cruz, personally highlighted by festival director Thierry Frémaux at the selection announcement.
Out of competition, Andy Garcia's crime thriller Diamond, starring Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman alongside the director, is set to draw one of the festival's most storied red carpets. John Travolta, meanwhile, returns to the Croisette for the first time since Pulp Fiction in 1994 to present his directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach in the Cannes Première section, with his attendance confirmed.
Japan at the Marché du Film
Japan is the 2026 Country of Honour at the Marché du Film. Following Brazil's landmark 2025 edition, Japan's designation brings co-production forums, cultural programming, and industry events celebrating the depth and global reach of Japanese cinema. It is the first time Japan holds this distinction at the Marché.
The Marché also launches its most significant structural addition in years. The new Cinemas Club, created in association with Cine Group and situated at the Rotonde du Lérins beside the Palais des Festivals, is the first venue inside a major film market dedicated specifically to international cinema exhibition. Two spaces anchor it: the Lérins Cinemas Club premium screening room, equipped with Christie and Dolby technology and KLS sofas, and the Cinemas Club hospitality area, a reception terrace overlooking the Bay of Cannes built for networking and roundtables on the future of theatrical exhibition. From May 12 to 20, international industry leaders fill it with conferences, masterclasses, and screenings.
Cinando, the Marché's professional platform serving close to 100,000 users worldwide, launches a complete rebrand in 2026 alongside a fully redesigned platform. Built from the ground up with support from Creative Europe MEDIA, the new Cinando expands beyond film into television and immersive content, with a cleaner interface, stronger mobile performance, and a new Discover feature that surfaces curated profiles and projects for more organic professional connection.
79th Cannes Film Festival· May 12–23, 2026, Red Carpet Schedule, Grand Théâtre Lumière ·
May 12 — Tuesday · Opening Day
19:00- Opening Ceremony.
20:00- La Vénus Électrique (The Electric Kiss): Pierre Salvadori, France — Out of Competition, starring: Pio Marmaï, Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lellouche, Vimala Pons.
May 13 — Wednesday
15:00- Nagi Notes (A Few Days in Nagi): Fukada Koji, Japan — Competition, starring: Takako Matsu, Shizuka Ishibashi.
18:30- La Vie d'une Femme (A Woman's Life): Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet, France — Competition, starring: Léa Drucker, Mélanie Thierry.
21:30- L'Abandon (Forsaken): Vincent Garenq, France — Out of Competition, starring: Antoine Reinartz, Emmanuelle Bercot, and Nedjim Bouizzou
23:45- The Fast and the Furious: Rob Cohen, USA — Cannes Classics Midnight, starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Meadow Walker. The screening will be attended by stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, producer Neal H. Moritz, and Meadow Walker, the daughter of the film's late star Paul Walker.
May 14 — Thursday
18:00- Fatherland: Pawel Pawlikowski, UK/Poland — Competition, starring: Sandra Hüller, Hanns Zischler, August Diehl.
20:30- Histoires Parallèles (Parallel Tales): Asghar Farhadi, France — Competition, starring: Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney.
00:00- Sanguine: Marion Le Corroller, France/Belgium — Midnight Screening, starring: Mara Taquin, Karin Viard, Kim Higelin.
May 15 — Friday
14:00- Soudain (All of a Sudden): Hamaguchi Ryusuke, France/Japan — Competition, starring: Virginie Efira, Tao Okamoto.
18:30- Karma: Guillaume Canet, France — Out of Competition, starring: Marion Cotillard, Denis Ménochet.
22:00- Gentle Monster: Marie Kreutzer, Austria — Competition, starring: Léa Seydoux, Catherine Deneuve, Jella Haase, Laurence Rupp.
00:30- Gun-Che (Colony): Yeon Sang-ho, South Korea — Midnight Screening.
May 16 — Saturday
15:00- Sheep in the Box: Koreeda Hirokazu, Japan — Competition, starring: Haruka Ayase, Daigo Yamamoto.
18:15- El Ser Querido (The Beloved): Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Spain — Competition, starring: Javier Bardem.
21:45- Paper Tiger: James Gray, USA — Competition, starring: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Miles Teller.
00:30- Full Phil: Quentin Dupieux, France — Midnight Screening, starring: Kristen Stewart, Woody Harrelson, Charlotte Le Bon.
May 17 — Sunday
15:00- Moulin: László Nemes, France — Competition, starring: Gilles Lellouche.
18:30- Garance (Another Day): Jeanne Herry, France — Competition, starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos.
21:30- Hope: Na Hong-jin, South Korea — Competition, starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Hwang Jung-min.
00:30- Jim Queen: Marco Nguyen & Nicolas Athané, France — Midnight Screening.
May 18 — Monday
15:30- L'Inconnue (The Unknown): Arthur Harari, France — Competition, starring: Léa Seydoux, Niels Schneider.
19:00- Fjord: Cristian Mungiu, Romania/Norway — Competition, starring: Renate Reinsve, Sebastian Stan.
22:30- Her Private Hell: Nicolas Winding Refn, Denmark/USA — Out of Competition, starring: Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Diego Calva, Kristine Froseth.
May 19 — Tuesday
15:30- Minotaur: Andreï Zviaguintsev, Russia — Competition, starring: Iris Lebedeva, Anatoli Bely.
19:00- Amarga Navidad (Bitter Christmas): Pedro Almodóvar, Spain — Competition, starring: Barbára Lennie.
22:00- Diamond: Andy Garcia, USA — Out of Competition, starring: Brendan Fraser, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman.
May 20 — Wednesday
15:00- Notre Salut (A Man of His Time): Emmanuel Marre, France — Competition, starring: Swann Arlaud.
18:45- La Bataille de Gaulle — L'Age de Fer (De Gaulle: The Iron Age): Antonin Baudry, France — Out of Competition, starring: Simon Abkarian, Benoît Magimel.
22:30- The Man I Love: Ira Sachs, USA — Competition, starring: Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
00:30- Roma Elastica: Bertrand Mandico, France — Midnight Screening, starring: Marion Cotillard, Ornella Muti.
May 21 — Thursday
18:00- La Bola Negra (The Black Ball): Javier Calvo & Javier Ambrossi, Spain — Competition, starring: Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, Lola Dueñas.
22:00- Coward: Lukas Dhont, Belgium — Competition.
May 22 — Friday
15:00- Das Getraumte Abenteuer (The Dreamed Adventure): Valeska Grisebach, Germany — Competition.
19:00- Histoires de la Nuit (The Birthday Party): Léa Mysius, France — Competition, starring: Hafsia Herzi, Monica Bellucci, Bastien Bouillon, Benoît Magimel.
22:00- L'Objet du Délit (Crescendo): Agnès Jaoui, France — Out of Competition, starring: Daniel Auteuil, Agnès Jaoui, Eye Haïdara.
May 23 — Saturday · Closing Day
20:15- Closing Ceremony.
79th Cannes Film Festival Side Events & Parties
Opening Ceremony After-Party
📅 May 12 | 📍 Plage des Palmes
Hosted by the Festival de Cannes, this carnival-themed celebration follows the Opening Ceremony and the world premiere of La Vénus Électrique, Pierre Salvadori's burlesque romantic comedy set in 1920s Paris, starring Gilles Lellouche, Anaïs Demoustier, and Pio Marmaï, screening simultaneously across France on opening night.
World Women Foundation Conference
📅 May 12-13 | 📍 Splendid Hotel
World Women Foundation brings together women leaders, change-makers, and mentors from 20 countries for two days of conversation around the future of women in the creative economy. Founded with a mission to invest in one million women by 2030, the Organisation uses the global stage of Cannes to accelerate dialogue on gender equality, entrepreneurship, and women's leadership across industries.
Magnum X Charli xcx Party Cannes 2026
📅 May 14 | 📍 Palais Stéphanie
World Women Foundation VIP Reception
📅 May 15 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 📍 La Scène des Artistes, Cannes
Chopard Annual Dinner & Love Party
📅 May 15 | 📍 Carlton Beach Club
The Annual Dinner and Love Party is the Maison's signature celebration of that partnership. An ultra-private black-tie soirée bringing together stars and global icons for an intimate chef-led dinner followed by the legendary Love Party, with live performances and DJ sets. Past editions have featured surprise performances by Bruno Mars and Enrique Iglesias and Rihanna debuting a jewellery collaboration with the brand.
Time House - No More Plastic Gala
📅 May 15 | 📍 Time House Villa
Co-organised by Time Magazine France and the No More Plastic Foundation, this Charity Gala is held in conjunction with the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), raising awareness about plastic pollution and its devastating impact on the world's oceans. The evening coincides with the launch of a special sustainability issue of Forbes France, guest-edited by Rosalie Mann and featuring Björk on the cover. An evening of cocktails, dinner, and live performance.
WhoMadeWho
📅 May 15 | 📍 Klub - Palm Beach Cannes.
Monte-Carlo Princely Gala
📅 May 16 | 📍 Le Majestic Cannes
An annual gala merging Monaco’s royal elegance with cinematic spectacle, where old-world prestige meets red carpet drama.
Chopard Yacht Party
📅 May 16 | 📍 Super Yacht, Cannes
Golden Lumière Awards & Gala
📅 May 18 | 📍 Hôtel Majestic | Ticketed Event
Better World Fund Gala
📅 May 18 | 📍 Carlton Hotel Beach
Now in its 16th edition, the Better World Fund's annual Cannes programme opens with a morning forum followed by an evening gala for humanity. The Fund uses cinema and art to drive social and environmental change, supporting humanitarian causes worldwide.
APM Monaco Cocktail Party
📅 May 19 | 📍 Terrasse d'Albane
Black Coffee
📅 May 19 | 📍 Klub - Palm Beach Cannes.
Eva Longoria Global Gift Gala
📅 May 20 | 📍 La Môme Plage
this black-tie beachfront gala supports women's education and children's welfare worldwide. This year's Global Gift Women Empowerment Awards go to actress Sofia Carson and Jwana Karim. French singer Kendji Girac performs live, with the evening hosted by Sandy Heribert and Alejandro Nones. The night begins at 8:30 PM with a cocktail reception and red carpet, followed by dinner, performances, and a live auction at 9:30 PM.
Highway to Peace Gala
📅 May 20 | 📍 Villa Oxygen- Ticketed Event
Held at the legendary Villa Oxygène in Super-Cannes, a Jacques Couëlle-designed estate with panoramic sea views that has hosted Cannes events since 2006, the Highway to Peace Gala unites artists, diplomats, and global leaders around a shared message of peace and cultural dialogue.
Philipp Plein Cruise 27 Fashion Show
📅 May 20 | 📍 La Jungle du Roi Villa
Time House- Bee:Wild Gala
📅 May 20 | 📍 Time House Villa
Co-organised by Time Magazine France and Bee:wild, a science-powered conservation campaign by Re:wild, the organisation co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, this charity gala marks World Bee Day — the UN-declared international observance held every May 20 — raising awareness about the global decline of pollinators and the urgent need to protect biodiversity. An evening of cocktails, dinner, and live performance.
Kilian Paris After Party
📅 May 19 | 📍 Cannes Beach
amfAR Gala & After Party
📅 May 21 | 📍 Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Cap d’Antibes
The amfAR Gala remains the most iconic charity event of Cannes, blending fundraising and performances in one legendary night. Now in its 32nd edition, This year's confirmed performers are Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson, and PinkPantheress, with a live auction led by auctioneer Simon de Pury.
Philipp Plein Champagne and Candy
📅 May 21 | 📍 Philipp Plein Boutique, Cannes
WIBA Awards
📅 May 22 | 📍 Hôtel Martinez
The World Influencers and Bloggers Awards, where digital powerhouses and creators take the spotlight.
Philipp Plein An Evening of Glamour & Prestige
📅 May 22 | 📍 Philipp Plein Boutique, Cannes
Fashion Show hosted by ONIRIQ Mag
📅 May 22 | 📍 Time House Villa
Philipp Plein Private Soirée
📅 May 23 | 📍 La Jungle du Roi Villa
Kaz James
📅 May 23 | 📍 Klub - Palm Beach Cannes.
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