Cannes bans nudity, discourages voluminous trains

The Cannes Film Festival has put its red-carpet dress code in writing again this year, telling guests that nudity is prohibited and that oversized looks with long trains are not permitted if they obstruct movement. The language appears in the festival’s 2026 guest guidance and FAQ, which direct attendees to the Festival-Goer’s Charter for event rules. The 79th edition of the festival opened on May 12 and runs through May 23 in Cannes. ### Where did the “ban” actually come from? The Festival de Cannes published the clearest wording in its FAQ and linked charter materials for 2026. The FAQ says festivalgoers can find “all the best practices to follow during the event” in the Festival-Goer’s Charter, and the festival’s official guidance states: “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival.” (festival-cannes.com) The same official guidance also addresses silhouette and scale. It says “voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.” ### Is this new for 2026 or a restatement? The 2026 coverage has treated the rule as a reiterated or clarified standard rather than a surprise created mid-festival. (festival-cannes.com) Vogue Singapore said Cannes had issued a statement last year clarifying its dress regulations, including the ban on nudity and long trains, while Hello! described 2026 as another year in which attendees were watching how strictly those limits would be tested. The festival’s own materials for 2026 do not frame the language as a one-day emergency measure. They present it as part of the standing guidance for attendees navigating screenings and official spaces. ### What counts as a problem under the rule? The festival’s wording focuses on access and movement as much as exposure. The official language bars nudity for “decency reasons” and bars voluminous outfits when they “hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests” or make seating harder inside the theater. (vogue.sg) That means the practical target is not only sheer dressing, but also gowns or trains that can clog the steps, the carpet approach, or auditorium rows. (festival-cannes.com) Cannes does not spell out measurements or garment dimensions in the FAQ excerpt, but its standard is operational: if an outfit blocks guest flow or complicates seating, it falls outside the permitted code. ### Which stars were cited as testing the limits? (festival-cannes.com) Daisy Edgar-Jones was among the names singled out in fashion coverage during the May 16-19 stretch of the festival. Cosmopolitan, via an AOL republication, said Edgar-Jones arrived at the “Fjord” screening in a Balenciaga look described as a “naked dress,” while MSN said she challenged the dress code with a gilded gown. (festival-cannes.com) Kristen Stewart also drew attention in coverage tied to the festival’s rules. Hello! said her May 16 “Full Phil” photocall look used sheer layering over a skin-tone base, and separate reports highlighted her footwear choices as another challenge to Cannes red-carpet convention. Sharon Stone appeared in coverage of the May 18 “Fjord” red carpet as an example of working within the code while still delivering a dramatic silhouette. (aol.com) Hello! listed Stone among standout looks at the screening, and other fashion reports described cape styling as a workaround that stayed inside the formal rules. (hellomagazine.com) ### What happens next at Cannes? The Festival de Cannes says its 79th edition runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026, and the official website says the screening schedule and event program are available through the festival’s online platforms. Red-carpet appearances will continue through the closing stretch of the event, with coverage carried on the festival’s press and live channels. (festival-cannes.com) (hellomagazine.com)