Cannes picks host
Rising French actor Eye Haïdara has been named host of both the opening and closing ceremonies for the 79th Cannes Film Festival — a high-profile choice as industry preparations accelerate. The announcement comes via Cannes’ official press release and Variety’s coverage, signaling early momentum for the festival’s programming push. (variety.com) (festival-cannes.com)
The 79th Festival de Cannes is scheduled to run May 12–23, 2026, and organisers have set April 9, 2026 as the date for the Official Selection reveal. (festival-cannes.com). (festival-cannes.com) France Télévisions and digital outlet Brut — identified as the festival’s official media partners — jointly announced the move and will provide expanded linear and online coverage throughout the two-week event. (festival-cannes.com). (festival-cannes.com) The appointment follows Laurent Lafitte’s role as master of ceremonies for the 78th edition in 2025, when he hosted the opening and closing evenings for the festival held May 13–24, 2025. (festival-cannes.com). (festival-cannes.com) Organisers note the actor’s breakout came with Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s C’est la vie!, which earned her nominations from the Lumières Awards and the César Academy, and her recent credits include Les Femmes du square, Brillantes and Six Days in Spring. (festival-cannes.com). (festival-cannes.com) Industry coverage flagged two of her next projects — Rachel Lang’s Mata and Agnès Jaoui’s L’Objet du délit — as titles that could have world premieres at Cannes when the lineup is announced. (Variety). (variety.com) Thierry Frémaux remains the festival’s artistic delegate overseeing the selection, and the 2026 edition will also present Honorary Palme d’Ors to Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson while Park Chan-wook will preside over the main competition jury. (Variety). (variety.com)
