Cannes Film Festival 2025: Dates, Tickets, Dress Code

The Cannes Film Festival is one of those events that seems to exist in a world of its own — a stretch of the French Riviera where cinema, celebrity, and strict dress codes collide for two weeks each May. The 78th edition, which ran from 13 to 24 May 2025, offered a fresh look at how this iconic festival actually works: who gets in, what they wear, and why most of us can’t just buy a ticket. Let’s unpack the facts behind the glamour.

Edition: 78th annual (2025) ·
Dates: 13–24 May 2025 ·
Jury president: Juliette Binoche ·
Official Selection announcement: 10 April 2025

What actually happens at the Cannes Film Festival?

Cannes is more than a red-carpet parade — it’s a working film festival with three overlapping tracks: the Official Selection (competition and out-of-competition screenings), the parallel programmes (Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week), and the Marché du Film, a massive industry marketplace. The 78th edition ran from 13 to 24 May 2025, with Juliette Binoche leading the main competition jury (Cannes.com, official tourism site). The festival’s FAQ notes that Grand Théâtre Lumière gala screenings typically take place around 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Festival de Cannes FAQ).

Is Cannes bigger than Oscar?

• The Cannes Film Festival is a festival and marketplace, not a single awards ceremony. The Oscars (Academy Awards) are a one-night awards show.
• Cannes draws more than 40,000 industry professionals annually; the Oscars invite about 3,000 guests. Both are prestigious but operate on different scales (Frenchly, culture publication).

What are the top 5 film festivals in the world?

• The “Big Three” are often Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. Sundance, Toronto, and Locarno also rank high. The top 5 is subjective.
• Cannes is considered the most glamorous and market-driven of the major festivals.

What is the Cannes Film Festival 2025 schedule?

• The festival ran 13–24 May 2025. The Official Selection was announced on 10 April 2025 (Festival de Cannes main site).
• Daily screenings, press conferences, and the Marché du Film ran in parallel.

Can anyone go to the Cannes Film Festival?

The short answer: not without accreditation or an invitation. Cannes is not a public film festival like Sundance or Toronto — most screenings and the entire red-carpet area are restricted to badge holders. The festival’s FAQ explicitly states that public access is limited (Festival de Cannes FAQ).

Is Cannes open to the public?

• No. Many screenings, including all red-carpet premieres, require accreditation or an invitation.
• Some outdoor screenings on the beach are free and open to non-badge holders, but they are not the main competition films.
• The Marché du Film is trade-only (Cannes Guide, visitor resource).

How hard is it to get tickets to Cannes?

• There is no single “ticket” for the general public. Access is controlled by accreditation categories: Festival badge (industry and guests), Press, Cinéphiles (film enthusiasts), and “3 jours à Cannes” (short package).
• The official 2025 accreditation deadlines were strict: Cinéphiles by 1 March, 3 jours à Cannes by 15 March, audiovisual press by 31 March, and Festival badges by 15 April (Festival de Cannes official charter (PDF)).

How much does it cost to attend the Cannes Film Festival?

• The festival does not publish a standard public ticket price for 2025 (Festival de Cannes FAQ).
• Accreditation fees vary by category; industry badges cost several hundred euros. Cinéphile and 3 jours badges are cheaper but still require application and approval.
• Travel and accommodation in Cannes during the festival can cost thousands.

Comparison: Accreditation categories and deadlines

Five accreditation categories, each with its own deadline for 2025 — one pattern: earlier deadlines apply to more limited-access badges, reflecting the festival’s tiered control.

The trade-off: the most accessible categories (Cinéphiles, 3 jours) require the earliest applications. Missing the deadline meant no access in 2025.

What is the dress code for the Cannes Festival?

Dress code at Cannes is rigid for evening premieres and surprisingly relaxed for daytime. The festival’s official 2025 charter and FAQ lay out clear rules (Festival de Cannes FAQ; official charter (PDF)).

“Evening wear is required for Grand Théâtre Lumière gala screenings. Acceptable: long dress or tuxedo. Alternatives for women: little black dress, cocktail dress, dark-colored pantsuit, or dressy top with black pants. Elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel are allowed, but sneakers are not.”

Festival de Cannes FAQ

“Nudity is prohibited on the red carpet and anywhere else in the festival area. Voluminous outfits, especially those with large trains, are not permitted because they hinder traffic flow and seating.”

Festival de Cannes official charter (PDF)

What should you wear to a Cannes red-carpet premiere?

• Men: tuxedo; women: evening gown, cocktail dress, or dark pantsuit.
• No sneakers, no nudity, no voluminous trains. The welcoming teams can deny access if rules are violated (official charter (PDF)).
• Vogue UK reported that the 2025 dress-code update did not deter experimental looks (Vogue UK, fashion authority).

Is there a dress code for Cannes daytime events?

• Daytime dress is relatively informal. Business casual is usually sufficient for screenings and daytime activity (Cannes Guide, visitor resource).
• Evening screenings outside the Grand Théâtre Lumière may also be less formal but still smart.

How does a film get selected for Cannes?

Selection is a closed, invitation-based process managed by the Festival de Cannes programming team. The Official Selection for 2025 was announced on 10 April 2025 (Festival de Cannes main site). Films compete for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize.

What was in the Cannes Film Festival 2025 lineup?

• The Official Selection included films in competition, out of competition, Un Certain Regard, and special screenings.
• The full list was published by Festival de Cannes on 10 April 2025.

Who were the 2025 Cannes Film Festival nominees?

• All films in the Official Selection competition are considered contenders for the Palme d’Or. The 2025 winners are documented on IMDb’s Cannes Film Festival event page (IMDb, film database).
• No “nominees” list — films are selected, then awarded.

What is the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or?

• The highest prize awarded to the best film in the main competition. Juliette Binoche’s jury decided the winner.
• Winners gain significant prestige and often boost box office and distribution.

Who won at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival?

• See IMDb for the full winners list (IMDb, film database).

“Festival de Cannes announced the films of the Official Selection 2025 on 10 April 2025.”

Festival de Cannes press release

What are the dates of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival?

As of now, the 2026 dates have not been announced. The 78th edition took place 13–24 May 2025, and the next confirmed iteration is the 80th edition, scheduled for 11–22 May 2027 (Cannes.com, official tourism site). The Marché du Film will run alongside it from 11 to 19 May 2027.

When was the 2025 Cannes Film Festival?

• 13 to 24 May 2025.

When is the next confirmed Cannes Film Festival?

• The 80th edition, 11–22 May 2027. The festival traditionally alternates between 75th, 78th, 80th editions etc.

Steps to plan your Cannes attendance (accreditation process)

Whether you’re a journalist, film professional, or enthusiast, these steps are based on the official 2025 process.

1. Check eligibility: Accreditation categories require proof of professional status or film interest.
2. Apply before deadline: Deadlines ranged from 1 March to 19 April 2025 (Festival de Cannes official charter (PDF)).
3. Prepare documents: Portfolio, passport, and for press: media credentials.
4. Arrange travel and accommodation: Book early — Cannes is packed during the festival.
5. Dress accordingly: Follow the red-carpet dress code for evening premieres.

Timeline: Key 2025 dates

• 10 April 2025 — Festival de Cannes announced the Official Selection.
• 13–24 May 2025 — 78th Cannes Film Festival took place.
• 11–19 May 2027 — Marché du Film scheduled.
• 11–22 May 2027 — 80th Cannes Film Festival scheduled.

Clarity: What’s confirmed and what’s not

Final takeaway

The 78th Cannes Film Festival confirmed that access remains tightly controlled, the dress code is rigorously enforced, and the selection process is opaque to outsiders. For film professionals, accreditation is the only reliable path in. For the rest of us, Cannes remains a spectacle to watch from afar — but the 80th edition in 2027 offers a clear future date to plan around. For casual readers, the Eastern & Oriental Express Guide or House of the Dragon Season 3 coverage may offer a lighter detour. The implication for anyone hoping to attend the next confirmed edition: start the accreditation process early, dress formally, and expect limited public access.

Frequently asked questions