Leonie Hanne on the 2021 Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Photographed by Aurélien Vélia, courtesy of Film de Cannes
Three days into the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, these are some of the things we know as a new roster of films comes together.
Two months after the Oscars, awards season circles back to its early rhythm. This time, filmmakers and artists gather once again on the Mediterranean coast at the Boulevard de la Croisette for the start of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, which runs until May 23.
The Festival de Cannes, also known as the Cannes Film Festival, is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, held every May in Cannes, France. It traces its origins to the pre-World War II era, in response to fascist influence at the Venice Film Festival, with its first full edition taking place in 1946. Since then, it has grown into a global home for cinema, where filmmakers and artists from around the world come together for premieres, competition, and screenings.
Officially starting last May 12, the event opened with a non-competitive screening of the French comedy The Electric Kiss by Pierre Salvadori. During the formal opening celebration, Peter Jackson was awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or for his contribution to cinema, with the crowd surprised when Elijah Wood himself appeared on stage to present the award to his longtime director. The two previously worked together on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. After all, it has been 25 years since they first brought a preview of The Lord of the Rings to Cannes in 2001.
While the festival often feels very “tuxedo and tiara,” the atmosphere shifted into a more festive mood the following day, when the 25th anniversary screening of Fast and Furious took place at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Vin Diesel arrived alongside Meadow Walker, the daughter of Paul Walker, where the two shared a hug on stage. “What you’re going to watch tonight is the beginning of one word. And that word is love,” Diesel told the crowd. After the screening, Diesel and Universal Pictures confirmed that four Fast & Furious television series are currently in development, with the final film, Fast Forever, expected to be released on March 17, 2028.
As the days pass by, the race among the 22 films competing for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest prize awarded to the best film in the Official Competition, continues. The lineup includes works from acclaimed auteur directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, László Nemes, and James Gray.
The results are now in the hands of the jury led by president Park Chan-wook, the filmmaker behind Oldboy and Decision to Leave. He is joined by a star-studded panel including Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Demi Moore, and Ruth Negga.
While the absence of major Hollywood studios remains one of the biggest talking points of this year’s lineup, the festival continues to build anticipation, with the awards ceremony set for May 23, closing two weeks of premieres.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, held annually in Cannes, France. It brings together filmmakers and artists from around the globe for premieres, screenings, and competition.
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 runs from May 12 to May 23 in Cannes, France. Filmmakers, artists, and industry figures gather on the French Riviera for two weeks of premieres, screenings, and competition.
The Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or is the festival’s highest prize, awarded to the best film in the Official Competition. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards in global cinema.
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 jury is led by president Park Chan-wook. He is joined by Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Demi Moore, and Ruth Negga, who will decide the winners of the main competition.
A total of 22 films are competing, featuring auteur directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, László Nemes, and James Gray.
