Cannes enforces formal dress code

The Cannes Film Festival is enforcing a formal dress code again at its 79th edition, tightening the rules around what guests can wear to its highest-profile red-carpet screenings. The festival’s official guidance for Grand Théâtre Lumière gala screenings calls for tuxedos or evening gowns, while outside coverage this week said the prohibited list includes nudity, oversized trains and sneakers. (festival-cannes.com) The restrictions have become part of the annual spectacle on the Croisette, where fashion coverage now tracks not only who wore what, but whether a look stayed inside the rules. (festival-cannes.com) The New York Times said Cannes bans “naked dressing,” voluminous gowns or dresses with long trains, and sneakers, even as stars including Demi Moore continued to dominate red-carpet galleries. (festival-cannes.com) ### Which Cannes screenings are covered by the strictest rules? The Grand Théâtre Lumière hosts the festival’s main gala screenings, with two held nightly at about 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to the festival’s admissions page. For those events, the festival says artists and guests are asked to present themselves in tuxedos or evening gowns at the foot of the red steps. (festival-cannes.com) The same official page says alternatives are permitted if attendees are not in full black-tie dress. Those options include a cocktail dress, a dark trouser suit, a dressy top with black trousers, a little black dress, or a black or midnight-blue suit with a bow tie. (nytimes.com) ### What is Cannes actually banning? The New York Times reported on May 21 that Cannes bans “naked dressing,” voluminous gowns or dresses with long trains, and sneakers under its dress code. People, in a May 13 item carried by AOL, said the festival warned that anyone not respecting those rules could be denied red-carpet access. A festival PDF for attendees says “decent dress is required” for all screenings and tells guests to avoid beachwear, casual clothing and flip-flops, while formal dress is required for gala screenings. (festival-cannes.com) That document also says elegant shoes are required, with or without heels. ### What does Cannes say men and women should wear? (festival-cannes.com) The festival’s official wording does not split the rules rigidly by gender on its admissions page, but it does specify classic formalwear for gala screenings. Tuxedos, evening gowns, dark suits and bow ties remain the baseline for the red-carpet premieres at the Lumière. (nytimes.com) Reuters’ May 20 photo package, cited in the briefing for this story, described Cannes as requiring dark suits and formalwear for men and barring overtly revealing or casual attire. That description tracks with the festival’s published guidance on gala screenings and general screening access. (cdn.festival-cannes.com) ### Are celebrities still finding ways to stand out? Demi Moore, Cate Blanchett and Sharon Stone were among the names highlighted across fashion coverage this week despite the tighter rules. The New York Times and other outlets continued to publish daily galleries from Cannes, showing that the dress code has not reduced the volume of red-carpet attention. (festival-cannes.com) The Washington Post said on May 21 that Moore, Blanchett and Stone were among the women over 50 drawing the strongest fashion notice at this year’s festival, underscoring how star power still drives the coverage even within a narrower set of wardrobe choices. ### How long will these rules shape the red carpet this year? (festival-cannes.com) The 79th Festival de Cannes runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026, according to the festival’s official screenings guide and visitor information pages. That means the formalwear rules will remain in effect for the remaining gala premieres at the Grand Théâtre Lumière through the festival’s closing days. (festival-cannes.com) (nytimes.com)