Questions around what to expect at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival have so far largely focused on two things: The Hollywood-shaped hole in the official selection and “The White Lotus.”
This year, the storied celebration of film held on the French Riviera will look a little less “Mission: Impossible,” which premiered on the Croisette in 2025, and a little more international as European and Asian directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryusuke Hamaguchi take center stage. Out of 22 films in competition to win the Palme d’Or, just two are from US auteurs — Ira Sachs’ “The Man I Love,” starring Rami Malek, and James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” with Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and Miles Teller.
Perhaps stars were responding to this shift out on the red carpet, which has at times skewed quirky and distinct instead of traditionally glamorous. One versatile dresser cutting through the noise of figure-hugging gowns and tulle frocks has been Ruth Negga, who has so far worn a varied roster of looks from an haute couture fringed Dior slip dress to an Ami tuxedo suit.
John Travolta, who this year returned to Cannes as a director with his debut film “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” arrived in a variety of berets. After so many years attending red carpets as an actor, he wanted to “play the part of a director,” Travolta told CNN. After some research the Hollywood icon found that “the old-school directors wore berets… And I said, that’s what I’m doing.”
Of course, running parallel to the festival’s activities is the filming of season four of “The White Lotus,” TV writer and actor Mike White’s HBO show satirizing the lives of the uber rich — which this time is set at Cannes Film Festival. Though how close the cast will get to the historic red carpet, remains to be seen.
Below are the most remarkable looks, as they happen, across the 12-day event.
Dua Lipa is seen during the festival wearing a fringed midi dress from Jacquemus. Andrea Cremascoli/GC Images/Getty Images
Odessa A’zion attends the “Karma” screening during the festival, sporting an oversized gray menswear suit from Dior. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Bella Hadid makes a grand return to Cannes at the “Garance” screening, wearing custom Prada for the occasion. Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
Cate Blanchett wearing Givenchy by Sarah Burton. Lyvans Boolaky/Getty Images
Cate Blanchett in custom Louis Vuitton. Aurore Marechal/Getty Images
Colman Domingo in custom Valentino. Aurore Marechal/Getty Images
Isabelle Huppert in Balenciaga. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Simone Ashley strikes a pose in archival Alexander McQueen. Manon Cruz/Reuters
Taylor Russell in creamy Dior. Kate Green/Getty Images
Taylor Russell departs the “Hope” screening during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival. Kate Green/Getty Images
Hoyeon Jung in Louis Vuitton. Kate Green/Getty Images
Julianne Moore, who won the 2026 Kering Women in Motion Award, at the ceremony in Bottega Veneta. Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
Ruth Negga at the 2026 Kering Women in Motion Awards in sultry Saint Laurent. Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images
During the day, Kristen Stewart wore Chanel to the “Full Phil” photocall. Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
At the “Full Phil” screening that evening, Stewart slipped into a second Chanel look. Victor Boyko/Getty Images
Adriana Lima in Roberto Cavalli couture. Laurent Hou/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images
Marion Cotillard in Chanel. Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
John Travolta made his directorial debut at Cannes Film Festival for “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.” Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
So far, Travolta has worn a different beret every day. “The old-school directors wore berets,” he told CNN at the film’s press junket. Kate Green/Getty Images
Léa Seydou in Louis Vuitton. Gisela Schober/German Select/Getty Images
Carla Bruni at the screening of the film “Garance” in Roberto Cavalli couture. Marko Djurica/Reuters
Chloé Zhao at the Chopard Trophy photocall in Bottega Veneta. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
For the premiere of “Paper Tiger” Zhao wore Schiaparelli. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
Sandra Hüller in Chanel. Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
Vincent Cassel in a classic suit and Narah Baptista in a ruched velvet strapless dress. Dominique Charriau/WireImage/Getty Images
In the day, Isabelle Huppert wore a full Gucci look from the Fall-Winter 2026 collection. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
At night, Huppert wore Gucci yet again for the “Histoires Parallèles (Parallel Tales)” screening. Kate Green/Getty Images
Barbara Sprouse in Miu Miu and Dylan Sprouse in a double-breasted suit at the “Histoires Parallèles (Parallel Tales)” premiere, where they announced they are expecting their first child. Kate Green/Getty Images
At the “Fatherland” screening Chloé Zhao wore a suede hooded dress. Kate Green/Getty Images
Demi Moore in Gucci. Rocco Spaziani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Suzi de Givenchy wore a leather jacket and skirt by ArdAzAei. David Niviere/SIPA/AP
Diane Kruger in Givenchy. David Niviere/SIPA/AP
Details of Diane Kruger’s braided hair style. JB Lacroix/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Red carpet breakout Ruth Negga in an Ami tuxedo suit. John Rasimus/STAR MAX/AP
Riley Keough wore a translucent skirt suit by Chanel. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
“I Love LA” actor Jordan Firstman, who is making his directorial debut this year, arrived to the photo call for “Club Kid” with a daring slogan t-shirt. Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Hannah Einbinder wearing Celine. Doug Peters/PA Wire
French actor and jury member Leïla Bekhti wore a Schiaparelli corset top. Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images
By day, Gillian Anderson wore Miu Miu for the photo call of “Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma.” Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
By night, Anderson changed into another light and airy Miu Miu gown, and tied back her curls. Laurent Hou/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images
Actor and Cannes jury member Ruth Negga wore custom Dior with Chopard jewelry at the opening ceremony on May 12. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Never the wallflower, Joan Collins brought a sense of drama to opening night with an orchid-inspired dress and black opera gloves by Stéphane Rolland. Aurore Marechal/Getty Images
Hamnet director and Cannes jury member Chloé Zhao wore Gabriela Hearst for the opening ceremony. Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
Model, actor and dancer Alton Mason ditched the shirt and tie for an unbuttoned opening night look. Gisela Schober/German Select/Getty Images
During the day, jury member Demi Moore wore a polka dot Jacquemus dress with feather confetti that made her dots look 3D. JB Lacroix/FilmMagic/Getty Images
For the night, Moore slipped into another Jacquemus sequin gown for the Opening Ceremony and the screening of the film “La Venus electrique” (The Electric Kiss). Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Jane Fonda in black sequined Gucci for the opening ceremony on May 12. Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Also opting for full-length sequins was Maika Monroe in Ashi Studio. Kate Green/Getty Images
French actor and model Frédérique Bel’s Pierre Cardin outfit fused beach vibes and Parisian chic with a double-brim and exposed midriff. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
British model and actor Poppy Delevingne wore vintage John Galliano, also at the opening ceremony and screening of the film, “The Electric Kiss.” Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
French actor Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu wore a dramatic ruffled Saint Laurent gown. REUTERS/Manon Cruz Manon Cruz/Reuters
