Festival de Cannes

The 80th Festival de Cannes takes place in Cannes, France, from 11 to 22 May 2027. The dates appear on the festival’s official site (opens in a new tab) and are also listed by the Palais des Festivals (opens in a new tab). The city is preparing to mark the festival’s 80th edition, as noted by Cannes municipality (opens in a new tab). Admission arrangements and transport timetables may change before 2027, so check the official visitor pages again when planning your trip.

The Festival de Cannes red-carpet staircase at the Palais des Festivals · 1 / 3

What happens at the festival

The Festival de Cannes is an international film event held each spring on the French Riviera. Screenings, premieres and professional activity bring the film industry to Cannes. The main festival setting is around the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and the Croisette. The Palais event page (opens in a new tab) describes the red-carpet staircase, including its 24 carpeted steps.

The Palais stands beside the waterfront, close to the central promenade, shops and restaurants. Festival activity can make the area busy, especially around scheduled screenings and evening arrivals. If you are visiting for a particular film, plan your route and allow time to reach the venue. The complete 2027 programme and screening locations should be checked on the official festival website (opens in a new tab) when they are published.

Can the public attend?

Some festival programmes are open to the public. The current screening admission guidance (opens in a new tab) and FAQ (opens in a new tab) explain accreditation routes and public programmes such as Cannes Cinéphiles, 3 Days in Cannes for people aged 18 to 28, and Cinéma de la Plage. These are the latest published arrangements. Check eligibility, application dates and screening rules for the 80th edition when the 2027 details are released.

Cannes Tourism describes Cinéma de la Plage in its festival overview (opens in a new tab) as a free beach-screening programme, subject to available capacity. Check the programme and entry instructions before setting out, and arrive early enough to find a place. For indoor screenings, follow the festival’s current admission rules rather than assuming walk-up tickets are available.

A Cannes symbol with a local origin

The Palme d’Or links the festival to Cannes. The official award history (opens in a new tab) says its 1954 design was inspired by the palm tree on the city’s coat of arms; the first Palme d’Or was awarded in 1955.

Getting to Cannes

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is the nearest major airport commonly used by visitors. The festival’s current travel page (opens in a new tab) lists Express Bus 81 from Terminal 2 to Cannes SNCF station, with a journey of about 45 minutes, and says the station is within walking distance of the Palais. These figures reflect the organizer’s current guidance. Confirm the route, stop, operating hours and ticket arrangements with the transport operator before travel in May 2027.

Cannes is also connected by rail. If you are arriving from elsewhere in France, compare train times with your arrival and accommodation plans, especially if you will be carrying luggage or reaching the city late. The station is centrally located, but festival crowds, road closures or local traffic can affect the last part of a journey. Keep the festival’s travel page and local transport information handy for updates close to your dates.

Where to stay and how to plan

Compare cancellation terms and the full location before paying. The festival’s travel page links to accommodation resources and warns visitors about booking scams. Use established booking channels, be cautious of requests to transfer money outside a platform, and verify that a property and its contact details are genuine. Browse Cannes accommodation (opens in a new tab) and check how long it takes to reach the Palais or the station on foot or by public transport.

If the main festival venues are outside your budget, look at nearby towns served by rail, then check late-evening return options before choosing a base. A farther hotel may reduce the room cost but add travel time and limit flexibility after screenings. For a short trip, choose accommodation around the plans you already have: a beach screening, an accredited programme or a particular event may lead to different arrival times and routes.

Before departure, confirm the official 2027 programme, ticket or accreditation rules, airport and rail connections, and your accommodation booking. For updates, use the Festival de Cannes website (opens in a new tab) and its linked visitor pages.