The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Dress Code: What’s Banned, What’s Welcomed and What Will ‘Prohibit Red Carpet Access’
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Dress Code: What’s Banned, What’s Welcomed and What Will ‘Prohibit Red Carpet Access’
Rachel RaposasWed, May 13, 2026 at 8:49 PM UTC
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Heidi Klum and Amal Clooney at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Credit: JB Lacroix/FilmMagic; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty
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Cannes Film Festival enforces a strict dress code, prohibiting several popular red carpet trends
Evening screenings at Grand Théâtre Lumière require formal attire like long dresses and tuxedos
"Anyone not respecting these rules" will be denied access to the red carpet
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is once again upon us — and so are its specific style parameters.
The annual festival in Cannes, France established a strict dress code last year, banning several red carpet trends, including the ever-popular option of naked dressing. This year, many of the same guidelines are still in place.
Screenings at Grand Théâtre Lumière that are scheduled around 7 and 10 p.m. required "evening wear," which Cannes Film Festival defines as a long dress or tuxedo. However, the little black dress is another option, as is a cocktail dress.
Eva Longoria at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty
Other acceptable outfits for these screenings, which the film's artistic teams usually attend, include "a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants [and] a black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie," per the festival's FAQ page.
"For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival," the festival's page reads, effectively reinforcing its policy from the year prior.
Bella Hadid at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Credit: Kristy Sparow/Getty
Last year, representatives for the festival said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporterthat the dress code had been to reflect "certain rules that have long been in effect," and though it did not seek to "regulate attire per se," the festival did explicitly "prohibit full nudity," for the sake of both the event and French law.
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Additionally, "Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted."
For footwear, those in attendance can wear "elegant" shoes or sandals, with or without a heel, though no sneakers will be permitted. Additionally, any large bag or backpack will not be allowed during the screenings at Grand Théâtre Lumière.
Should any attendee at the Cannes Film Festival fail to meet the dress code, its welcoming teams "will be obligated to prohibit Red Carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules."
Wan QianHui at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Credit: Kristy Sparow/Getty
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For screenings not taking place at Grand Théâtre Lumière, "proper attire is sufficient," the site reads.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
