The 79th Cannes Film Festival

The 79th Festival de Cannes is set to take place from May 12 to May 23, 2026. As the world’s most prestigious film festival, it serves as the ultimate "litmus test" for global cinema, where the next year’s Oscar frontrunners are often born on the French Riviera. Following Greta Gerwig (2024) and Juliette Binoche (2025), the 2026 Jury President remains a closely guarded secret, though rumors are currently swirling around Yorgos Lanthimos or Cate Blanchett. For the first time, Japan has been named the "Country of Honour" for the Marché du Film (the business wing of Cannes). Expect a massive focus on Japanese animation and genre cinema, with special showcases dedicated to the legacy of masters like Akira Kurosawa and new pioneers like Hirokazu Kore-eda.