Cannes 2026: Final awards night set to honour best in global cinema

The main prizes of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival are set to be awarded on Saturday evening, May 23, with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 8:15 pm local time (1815 GMT), bringing the annual event on the French Riviera to a close.

A total of 22 films are competing for the festival’s top honour, the Palme d'Or, along with several other major awards. In addition to the Palme d’Or for best film, prizes will also be presented for Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor. The Grand Prix — considered the second-highest distinction — will also be awarded during the ceremony.

The winners will be selected by an international jury chaired by South Korean director Park Chan-wook. The jury panel includes actress Demi Moore and actor Stellan Skarsgård. The closing ceremony will be hosted by French-Malian actress Eye Haïdara.

During the gala, Barbra Streisand is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of her career. However, she will not be able to attend the ceremony in person due to a knee injury.

At last year’s festival in 2025, the Palme d’Or was awarded to Iranian director Jafar Panahi for his film “It Was Just an Accident.”

By Tamilla Hasanova