Cannes Film Festival 2026

The Cannes Film Festival opened on 20 September 1946. A first edition had been planned for September 1939, with Louis Lumière as honorary president, but was cancelled when war began. France revived the idea after the Liberation, in part as a counter to the Venice Film Festival, which under Mussolini had become politicised.

The festival moved to May in 1951 and has run on roughly the same dates each year since. The Palme d'Or was introduced in 1955. The Marché du Film, the festival's parallel industry market, was founded in 1959 and has grown into the largest film market in the world.

In May 1968 the festival was cut short on its eleventh day. François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Lelouch and others occupied the main auditorium in solidarity with the students and workers on strike across France. No awards were given that year.

The current Palais des Festivals at the eastern end of the Croisette opened in 1982. By the millennium the festival had become the largest cinema event in the world by attendance — and the bay had become a recognisable backdrop for the red carpet, with superyachts anchored a few hundred metres offshore.

Around 1,500 films now screen each year across the official selection, the Directors' Fortnight and the Critics' Week. More than 30,000 industry professionals attend the fortnight. Studio rentals, distribution-deal dinners and after-parties continue to take place onboard yachts in the bay, with tenders running to and from the Vieux Port through the night.

The 79th edition runs from 12 to 23 May 2026. ALFA NERO will be at anchor in the bay for the duration of the festival.