Cannes schedules May 12–23, 79th edition

Cannes is not just locking in dates. It is locking in the shape of the global film calendar for late spring. The 79th Festival de Cannes runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026, and the big pieces are already on the board — the Official Selection was unveiled on April 9, then topped up on April 22, while the Marché du Film starts alongside the festival on May 12 and runs through May 20. ### So what is actually scheduled? The festival side is the prestige machine — Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, Cannes Premiere, and Special Screenings. The 2026 lineup includes new films from Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, Paweł Pawlikowski, Ira Sachs, and others, with Pierre Salvadori’s *The Electric Kiss* set as the opening film out of competition. (festival-cannes.com) ### Why do the dates matter so much? Because Cannes is two overlapping events, not one. The public-facing festival runs May 12–23, but the business engine — Marché du Film — runs May 12–20. That means deals, sales, co-production meetings, and market screenings peak before the awards are even handed out. Basically, the red carpet gets the headlines, but the market sets a lot of the industry agenda. ### How big is the market side this year? (festival-cannes.com) Huge, at least by the numbers Cannes is putting forward. Marché du Film says it expects 15,000 professionals from 140 countries, around 1,500 market screenings, 4,000 films and projects, and more than 250 industry events. That is why a Cannes schedule is really a map of who gets seen, financed, and distributed — not just who gets reviewed first. ### What stands out in the 2026 lineup? (marchedufilm.com) The obvious thing is the concentration of heavyweight auteurs. Cannes is leaning hard into established directors with serious festival histories, but it is also keeping space for first features and newer voices in Un Certain Regard. That split matters — Competition is where prestige and awards narratives get built, while Un Certain Regard often functions as the discovery zone for filmmakers who break wider a year or two later. ### Is this only about premieres? Not even close. Cannes works like a two-level system. Upstairs is symbolism — premieres, stars, critics, prizes. Downstairs is plumbing — rights sales, territory deals, financing packages, streamer interest, festival bookings. A film can leave Cannes without a prize and still have a great week if it lands buyers or co-producers. That is the part casual viewers usually do not see. (festival-cannes.com) ### Why is Japan getting extra attention? Because Marché du Film named Japan its 2026 Country of Honour. That is not just ceremonial. It usually means curated programming, industry visibility, networking focus, and a stronger platform for national cinema and companies during the market. In plain English, Cannes is using one of its biggest side stages to steer attention and business toward Japan this year. (marchedufilm.com) ### What should people watch for next? The schedule is set, but Cannes always becomes more real in the final days before opening — screening slots, jury chatter, sales buzz, and late narrative shifts start to matter. The important thing now is that the 79th edition is no longer a vague calendar marker. It has dates, a lineup, a market program, and a clear identity: prestige cinema up front, global film commerce underneath. (marchedufilm.com) ### Bottom line Cannes from May 12 to May 23 is the showcase. Cannes from May 12 to May 20 is the deal room. Put those together, and the 79th edition looks less like a single festival than the place where the next year of international film starts taking shape. (marchedufilm.com) (festival-cannes.com)