Cannes screens 18 of 22 films

The 79th Festival de Cannes moved into its final stretch on Thursday, May 21, with 18 of the 22 films in the main competition already screened, according to French media coverage and the festival’s published schedule. Cannes runs from May 12 to May 23 this year, with the Palme d’Or set to be awarded at the closing ceremony on Saturday. The official festival site says the winners of the 2026 edition will be revealed that day, and TF1 Info reported the competition race would effectively be decided over the final two days. Trade and critic speculation has narrowed around a small group of titles, though Cannes itself has not signaled any favorite. ### How far through the competition is Cannes now? TF1 Info reported on Thursday that 18 of the 22 films competing for the Palme d’Or had screened by day 10 of the festival. That leaves four competition titles still to play before the jury deliberates. The festival’s official materials say 22 films are in competition at the 2026 edition. (festival-cannes.com) A Cannes press release on the Official Selection said the lineup announced in April would be updated, while outside listings and festival coverage published this month also put the competition total at 22. ### When is the Palme d’Or actually awarded? Saturday, May 23, is the date Cannes has set for its closing ceremony and prize announcements. The festival’s awards page says the 2026 winners will be available online that day, and its ceremonies page lists the 79th edition as running through May 23. (festival-cannes.com) L’Officiel also reported that global attention would turn back to the Croisette on May 23 for the closing ceremony, when the Palme d’Or is handed out. The ceremony will be broadcast live in France on France 2, according to the festival. ### Which films are being talked about most in the final days? (festival-cannes.com) IndieWire said on May 20 that the leading Palme d’Or contenders included “Paper Tiger,” “All of a Sudden,” “Fatherland,” and “Hope,” describing the race as still open late in the festival. RogerEbert.com, in an earlier festival dispatch, singled out “Fatherland” as one of the competition films that anchored the early Palme slate. (festival-cannes.com) ComingSoon reported on May 20 that “Fatherland,” identified there as “Fatherland 1949” in prediction-market coverage, had become the new frontrunner based on betting odds. That report also said two other films remained close enough to overtake it, underscoring that the ranking reflected market sentiment rather than any statement from the jury. (indiewire.com) ### What does the official Cannes program say about the endgame? The Cannes program page says the Official Selection and event schedule for the 79th edition were unveiled on April 9 in Paris, and the live page continues to update screenings, photocalls and press conferences as the festival unfolds. That public schedule is the clearest guide to what remains before the jury meets. (comingsoon.net) The festival has not published any running scorecard or shortlist for the Palme d’Or. Cannes awards are decided by the jury after the final competition screenings, and the official awards page says only that the winners will be announced on Saturday. ### What happens next on the Croisette? May 23 is the next fixed date in the competition calendar. (festival-cannes.com) Cannes says the closing ceremony will deliver the 2026 prize list, including the Palme d’Or, after the remaining competition films have screened and the jury has completed deliberations. (festival-cannes.com)