The Best 2026 Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Fashion Deserves a Palme D'Or

Lights, camera, Croisette! From now until May 24, stars are filling the 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet in their French Riviera best. If you're looking for over-the-top trains and a dress code pushed to its limits, you've come to the right place.

For the 79th year running, the Cannes Film Festival is gathering A-listers from around the world to debut a new slate of projects in pursuit of the prestigious Palme D'Or, with a side of red carpet glamour. Best-dressed lists over the decades have included everyone from Princess Diana and Jane Birkin to Rihanna and Bella Hadid. Two days in to the 2026 installment, the circuit had already welcomed jurors Demi Moore and Ruth Negga; actors Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson; Bella Hadid in spring's silver sneaker trend; and Formula 1 royalty Alexandra and Charles Leclerc. The red carpet looks are breaking news, too: Model Barbara Palvin revealed she's pregnant with her Cinderella gown by Miu Miu.

Then and now, Cannes fashion leans into capital-O opulence: dresses by the likes of Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Miu Miu often come dripping with embellishments and paired to even more extravagant Bulgari or Chopard jewels. The conversation around the carpet's best-dressed list isn't always quite so glittery, though. In 2025, the Cannes red carpet dress code ignited a controversy with the introduction of a "nudity ban"—effectively shutting out the naked dresses stars had preferred modeling in recent years. "Voluminous outfits," too, were put on strict watch, given past traffic jams caused by mile-long trains.

Stars are taking the limits in stride, tapping their favorite designers for looks that are just as head-turning—even without sheer fabrics. Every day until the Cannes Film Festival wraps, Marie Claire will share our must-see looks from the day's red carpets. Ahead, get caught up on the best Cannes 2026 red carpet fashion so far.

Bella Hadid wearing Schiaparelli

At first glance, Bella Hadid's Cannes Schiaparelli red carpet dress on May 20 was all about flouting the dress code in custom fashion. (By that, I mean a trompe-l'œil lace dress requiring over 22,000 hours of hand-embroidery to achieve its semi-sheer texture.) Look closer, and it's actually an homage to one of the original Cannes Film Festival greats: Jane Birkin. The late style and film icon wore a similar dress on the festival circuit in the 1960s; Hadid modified it for the 2020s with a lace-up back detail and a ruffled train.

Alexa Chung

The It girl's It girl arrived at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20 armed with a mixed-material gown that looked even better from the back. Alexa Chung is never the type to follow the red carpet archetype, and this draped dress with a lavender satin top and semi-sheer chiffon skirt upended expectations from every angle.

Daisy Edgar-Jones wearing Balenciaga

Daisy Edgar-Jones's Balenciaga dress tiptoes up to the nearly-naked line without breaching the dress code. Thank the artful swirls of silver beading, and her heaps of Boucheron diamonds, for ensuring the semi-sheer gown passed the test.

Havana Rose Liu wearing Balenciaga

Havana Rose Liu took Her Private Hell's May 18 premiere as an invitation to go slightly method with her Cannes red carpet look. From the bandage-like bodice to the side cut-outs and sweeping cape, Liu's evening gown turned up the temperature.

Bella Hadid wearing Prada

At long last, the queen of the Cannes Film Festival red carpet best-dressed list has returned. Bella Hadid saved her grand re-entry for the Garance premiere on May 17. In a turn fit for Cannes royalty, she tapped Prada for a strapless satin gown dotted with pearly beads along the neckline. A matching shawl draped over her shoulders and onto the carpet, landing next to her pointed-toe pumps. In past years, Bella Hadid was the Cannes guest who pushed the boundaries in what may have been the Croisette's most naked dress on record. But even with a more covered-up dress code, she's still the stand-out.

Taylor Russell wearing Dior

It's been too long since I've seen certified fashion girl Taylor Russell light up a red carpet. Her custom Dior by Jonathan Anderson gown, featuring a wraparound floral skirt and a burst of greenery at the bustle, was well worth the wait.

Hoyeon wearing Louis Vuitton

Squid Games breakout Hoyeon is now crossing over to Cannes Film Festival stardom. She glistened on the May 17 red carpet premiere of Hope in a Louis Vuitton gown with a draped cowl neckline, oversize beaded florals, and an asymmetrically draped skirt. It's a little 1920s-gone-2020s, and it proved that some gold trophy-worthy dresses are actually crafted from silver.

Emma Mackey wearing Louis Vuitton

The Cannes dress code says no nudity, but the rules aren't as restrictive for classic cut-outs. Emma Mackey attended the Full Phil premiere on May 17 championing the art of the selective reveal in a custom Louis Vuitton gown that covered her up her arms and hid her legs beneath a glowing white skirt. But the portion of her dress artfully showing off her abs says that even minimalist outfits can have a bit of intrigue.

Kristen Stewart wearing Chanel

Kristen Stewart and Chanel have been a red carpet duo for years now, yet her styling in the famed French house always feels special. Case in point: This sequin gown plucked from the label's Fall 2026 runway, which played off the carpet's tones and Stewart's punk-rock beauty at once.

Odessa A'Zion

Odessa A'Zion is the coolest girl on any red carpet. She maintained her reputation at the Cannes Film Festival May 15 in a pinstripe button-down and the most gracefully relaxed suit Cannes has ever seen. Her charcoal gray blazer and wide-leg trousers were dripping in diamonds—a perk of being honored at the annual Chopard Gala that evening.

Cara Delevingne wearing Tom Ford

Cara Delevingne kept it classic on May 15 in a black, halter-neck gown from Tom Ford Fall 2026. Cascading, sculptural ruffles and an itty-bitty, keyhole cut-out added to the dress's gothic glamour. But Delevingne's sharp red lip brought the whole look together.

Barbara Palvin

Barbara Palvin's pregnancy outfit streak shows no signs of slowing down at the Cannes Film Festival. On day four, the power couple returned to the steps of Hôtel Martinez, dressed in almost-identical menswear. Palvin joined a long line of It girls elevating white button-downs this spring, following Taylor Swift, Ayo Edebiri, Katie Holmes, and more. She tucked hers into a black column skirt and cradled a cummerbund around her growing baby bump.

Simone Ashley wearing vintage McQueen

Talk about a grand entrance. Simone Ashley arrived at the May 15 premiere of Karma in an impressive, lady-in-red dress. Stylist Rebecca Corbin Murray dressed Ashley in a vintage McQueen Fall 2005 gown, featuring a fitted bustier and an asymmetrical trumpet skirt. Slightly-darker trim separated the Bridgerton star's creaseless bodice from the pleated, carpet-grazing train.

Riley Keough wearing Alaïa

Hailey Bieber's influence was felt on day four of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Stylist Jamie Mizrahi dressed Riley Keough in the heeled flip-flops trend beneath a drop-waist, little black dress from Alaïa. The Daisy Jones and the Six actor pulled off similar V-shaped straps to Bieber, except see-through PVC wedges turned her $1,690 Alaïa heels naked.

Diane Kruger wearing Givenchy

Mini dress sightings are few and far between on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. But on May 14, Diane Kruger's Givenchy Fall 2026 look proved shorter hemlines aren't to be underestimated. The floral-embroidered mini looked just as elegant as full-length gowns at the Fatherland premiere. Tying an emerald green cape around its butter yellow sheen only added to the glamour. Peep-toe pumps—sculpted from the same silk as her dress—were truly the cherry on top.

Barbara Palvin wearing Miu Miu

All sorts of congratulations are in order for model Barbara Palvin. First, for sharing a major pregnancy reveal with husband Dylan Sprouse on her way to the red carpet. And second, for making the Cannes Film Festival best-dressed list in a modern Cinderella blue gown tailored perfectly to her announcement.

Aja Naomi King wearing Tamara Ralph

At the 2026 Met Gala, gowns fit for a Grecian sculpture were cast in ivory and cream to match a statue's marble. At the Cannes Film Festival, Aja Naomi King showed tributes to the goddesses are even more praise-worthy when they're fashioned from bubblegum pink fabric.

Sara Sampaio wearing Miu Miu

That's not a cloud floating down onto the Fatherland premiere red carpet at Cannes. It's model Sara Sampaio, who followed up a glittery strapless column gown on May 13 with a corseted dress featuring layers and layers of weightless tulle.

Chloé Zhao wearing Gabriela Hearst

Just when you thought the hooded gown trend had faded into the red carpet background, Chloé Zhao gave it new life. The Cannes Film Festival juror let the unconventional silhouette do all the work—and probably inspired Zendaya's upcoming Dune: Part Three press tour while she was at it.

Ruth Negga wearing Saint Laurent

Ruth Negga followed up her first look of the festival (check it out, below) with a Saint Laurent pull fit for Black Swan. It combined a tutu peplum skirt with the see-through lace also present in Zoë Kravitz's recent Met Gala look—so, it had double the fashion insider appeal.

Demi Moore wearing Gucci

Demi Moore and stylist Brad Goreski invented a fresh interpretation of mermaid dressing with this custom Gucci gown. Instead of the obvious pailettes and seashell motifs, they chose a purple fabric that glistened like water and intentionally wet hair to match. In that moment, she was the queen of the Croisette—and possibly the nearby Mediterranean Sea.

Hannah Einbinder wearing Celine

Hannah Einbinder and stylist Jamie Mizrahi love a minimalist red carpet look. Naturally, they weren't abandoning their playbook just for the glitz of the Cannes Film Festival. Staying true to the Hacks star's style profile in this streamlined Celine gown made her an instant best-dressed pick.

Gillian Anderson wearing Miu Miu

There's no mystery surrounding X-Files alum Gillian Anderson's Cannes Film Festival gown. Her Miu Miu select was a standout, from the double-strapped neckline to the anti-jewelry embroidery along the bodice.

Alexandra Leclerc wearing Paolo Sebastian

Is there any better place for Monaco's unofficial royal couple to make their red-carpet debut as husband and wife? Alexandra Leclerc traded Ferrarri red for Cannes Palm D'Or gold in a Paolo Sebastian gown—the very same designer behind the dress she wore to marry Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc.

Demi Moore wearing Jacquemus

Demi Moore and stylist Brad Goreski doubled up on Jacquemus for her first day as a 2026 Cannes Film Festival juror. After an explosion of polka dots for a daytime red carpet, she slipped into a second, custom gown by the French designer: a strapless peplum with sequins to rival the shine of her extra-large diamond collar necklace.

Ruth Negga wearing Dior

Ruth Negga and stylist Karla Welch opened the Cannes Film Festival best-dressed list with a Roaring Twenties bang on May 12. Their Dior select's fringe tassels and shade of minty green brought the best of the jazz age back to the present, with the help of sultry lace accents along the neckline and some sky-high platform heels.

Jane Fonda wearing Gucci

Jane Fonda has had her share of boundary-breaking moments on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet—like the moment she styled comfortable ballet flats instead of heels. But this Gucci dress is to-the-letter chic, from its all-over sequin construction to the statement diamonds she piled on top of it.

Chloé Zhao wearing Gabriela Hearst

Hamnet director Chloé Zhao opened her tenure as a 2026 Cannes Film Festival jury member wearing a semi see-through gown by Gabriela Hearst. All that gothic lace and ruffles along the skirt were enough to meet the Cannes dress code without forfeiting her personal style.

Anaïs Demoustier wearing Prada

I have to say "merci" to French actress Anaïs Demoustier and her custom Prada gown for the Cannes Film Festival's opening ceremony. It's not often you see floral prints on the Cannes red carpet, and definitely not with the double-layered skirt she had custom made for the occasion. It's sweet and ethereal, a standout among the more voluminous and glittery dresses surrounding her.

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu wearing Saint Laurent

Yes, it's hard to follow Beyoncé wearing your Saint Laurent gown. But Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu proved the ruffled dress was worth a second take when she added on a set of Cannes-approved diamonds.

All Your Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Questions, Answered

The Cannes Film Festival red carpet fashion is as much of an event as the movie premieres. Here's everything you need to know.

What Is the 2026 Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Dress Code?

Stars have a lot of leeway on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Typically, they follow one central rule: the more over-the-top, the better. The official charter invites guests to style "evening wear," including little black dresses, cocktail dresses, and suits.

But there are two big no-no's for guests. "Nudity" is banned, along with "voluminous outfits" that could disrupt the flow of traffic into the theater. Last year, some celebrities still managed to get away with a semi-sheer bodice or a selective cut-out—but there's definitely less skin shown on the carpet than in years past.

There are also regulations on shoes to watch out for. Years ago, Cannes required that women wore high heels on the carpet. Once Kristen Stewart rebelliously went barefoot and Jennifer Lawrence tucked flip-flops under her dress, organizers made adjustments to allow more flat (but fancy) shoes.

When Can I See Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Fashion?

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 through May 24. That's two whole weeks of glamorous outfits on display along the French Riviera. Most black-tie premieres at Cannes start at 7p.m. local time, meaning they'll cross your feed in the United States during the early afternoon.

Who's Walking the 2026 Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet?

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet will include a mix of actors promoting projects featured within the official programming...and even more A-listers who are just hitting the Croisette to support their friends and peers. Demi Moore, Chloe Zhao, and Ruth Negga are among the jurors attending every screening during the two-week festival. So far, the guest list has otherwise included everyone from Formula 1 stars Charles and Alexandra Leclerc to Heidi Klum.