2026 Cannes Film Festival: History and Background

The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival took place from 12 to 23 May 2026. South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook served as jury president for the main competition. Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d'Or for a second time with the drama film Fjord.

Hartland Villa designed the official poster for the festival featuring actresses Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon on the set of Thelma & Louise (1991) by Ridley Scott, the closing film of the 44th edition. French actress Eye Haïdara served as host for the opening and closing ceremonies.

During the festival, three Honorary Palmes d'Or were awarded: the first was to Peter Jackson during the festival's opening ceremony, the second was awarded on short notice to John Travolta before the world premiere of Propeller One-Way Night Coach, the third was awarded to Barbra Streisand during the closing ceremony.

The festival opened with the French period-comedy film The Electric Kiss by Pierre Salvadori.

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