Cannes 2026 Competition Lineup Announced, No Italian Films Selected
The official selection for the 79th Cannes Film Festival was revealed on Thursday, with notable absences and high-profile entries. No Italian productions appear in any section, including the main competition and special categories like Un certain regard. Pedro Almodóvar and Hirokazu Kore’eda, who previously won the Palme d'Or in 2018, return as contenders. South Korean director Park Chan-wook will preside over the jury awarding the festival's top prizes. Opening the event will be Pierre Salvadori's La Vénus électrique, screening out of competition alongside Nicolas Winding Refn's Her Private Hell. John Travolta's directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, is slated for the Première section. Career achievement honors go to Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand. The festival runs from May 12 to 23 in Cannes, France.
Key facts
- The 79th Cannes Film Festival selection was announced on Thursday.
- No Italian films are included in any section of the festival.
- The festival will take place from May 12 to May 23, 2026.
- Pedro Almodóvar and Hirokazu Kore’eda are among directors competing for the Palme d'Or.
- Park Chan-wook will chair the jury awarding the main prizes.
- Pierre Salvadori's La Vénus électrique is the opening film, screening out of competition.
- John Travolta makes his directorial debut with Propeller One-Way Night Coach in the Première section.
- Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand will receive career achievement Palme d'Or awards.
Entities
Artists
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Hirokazu Kore’eda
- Pierre Salvadori
- Nicolas Winding Refn
- John Travolta
- Park Chan-wook
- Peter Jackson
- Barbra Streisand
- Andrey Zvyagintsev
- Rodrigo Sorogoyen
- Ira Sachs
- Pawel Pawlikowski
- Laszlo Nemes
- Lea Mysius
- Cristian Mungiu
- Emmanuel Marre
- Marie Kreutzer
- Koji Fukada
- Na Hong-jin
- Jeanne Herry
- Arthur Harari
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- Valeska Grisebach
- Lukas Dhont
- Javier Ambrossi
- Javier Calvo
- Charline Bourgeois-Taquet
- Asghar Farhadi
- Andy Garcia
- Vincent Garenq
- Guillaume Canet
- Agnes Jaoui
- Antonin Baudry
Institutions
- Cannes Film Festival
Locations
- Cannes
- France