The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is in full swin, ushering in the annual spectacle of celebrity arrivals and red carpet scrutiny, where every gown, tuxedo and styling choice is dissected in real time by fashion watchers around the world.
Last year, organisers sparked controversy with an eleventh-hour edict banning “nudity” on the red carpet.
The move reportedly prompted several high-profile guests to rethink their planned looks over concerns they might be deemed too revealing.
The same rule remains in place this year.
“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival,” reads Cannes’ “Festival-goer’s Charter”.
The dresscode also reinforces expectations around formal eveningwear, with long gowns and tuxedos remaining the standard.
Read more: No nudity please, we're Cannes! Film festival bans 'nude' red carpet dresses
Acceptable attire, according to the guide, includes cocktail dresses, dark-coloured pantsuits, elegant separates paired with black trousers, refined sandals or heels, and black or navy suits worn with a bow tie or dark tie.
Voluminous silhouettes have also been discouraged, particularly dresses with dramatic trains that obstruct guest movement or complicate theatre seating.
So far, with the festival running until May 23, most attendees appear to be adhering closely to the guidelines.
Black emerged as the defining shade of the opening night, with Gong Li and Jane Fonda opting for restrained, elegant looks.
Chang Sisi also chose black, though she punctuated the look with an oversized vivid pink shawl.
Gong, however, switched to a sapphire- blue design on day two, standing out against the sea of muted monochromes.
Demi Moore also favoured bold colour, appearing in a striking slim red gown with a flared neckline.
Ikram Abdi Omar and Joan Collins embraced crisp white designs that stood apart from the darker tailoring dominating the carpet.
The men, meanwhile, largely played it safe in classic tuxedos and sharply cut suits.
Isaach De Bankole managed to make formalwear feel unexpectedly relaxed in a double-breasted jumpsuit paired with pristine white sneakers.
There were a few offenders in sheer or skin-baring outfits, though they represented only a small minority compared to similar events.
Read more: Why are naked dresses dominating red carpet fashion in Hollywood today?
This renewed emphasis on strict dresscodes arrives amid debate around the increasingly provocative nature of red carpet fashion.
In the pursuit of virality and online attention, some celebrities have pushed sheer dressing and near-nude silhouettes to extremes, fuelling wider conversations about public decency and the limits of fashion-as-performance.
While transparency and body-conscious dressing remain dominant runway trends, critics have increasingly questioned whether some designs prioritise shock value over style.
The Cannes Film Festival’s continued insistence on decorum signals a rare intervention from an event organiser in an era when celebrity dressing is often left largely unchecked.
In many ways, the festival’s red carpet appears to be setting a new tone for formal glamour – one that favours polish, restraint and old Hollywood elegance over overt provocation.
Properly glamorous red carpet look at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival
Chang Sisi draws all eyes with her feathered shawl. Photo: AFP
Jane Fonda in a glittering Gucci dress. Photo: AP
Joan Collins wears a more sculptural design that resembles a flower. Photo: AP
Ikram Abdi Omar is a breathtaking sight in a brilliant white Stella McCartney dress, complete with a matching headscarf. Photo: AP
Gong Li is all smiles in a tulle gown from the Kitx Autumn/Winter 2023 collection. Photo: AP
Demi Moore is wearing a custom-made design by Demna for Gucci. Photo: Reuters
Isaach De Bankole looks suave and at ease in his informal formal attire. Photo: AP
