Cannes Film Festival Tightens Red Carpet Dress Code: Glamour Meets Restraint

Bella Hadid attending "The Apprentice" premiere at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on 20 May, 2024. Luca Carlino / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP

By Kieran Vale

staff writer

May 12, 2025

Just days after the fashion-forward spectacle of the Met Gala, the global spotlight shifts to the south of France as the Cannes Film Festival returns from May 13 to May 24. But this year, the cinematic celebration comes with a sartorial twist a newly enforced, more conservative dress code that’s making waves even before the first step hits the red carpet.

According to the festival's official guidelines, "nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival," citing "decency reasons." But the changes go beyond modesty. The festival is also clamping down on logistics-defying fashion. Voluminous gowns with oversized trains once a staple of red carpet drama are now discouraged due to their impact on guest flow and theater seating.

The message is clear: elegance and practicality must now coexist.

Evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, the heart of Cannes glamour, will now strictly require formal eveningwear. Women are expected to wear long dresses, while men must don tuxedos though some flexibility is offered. The festival allows for alternatives such as a cocktail dress, black pantsuit, or dressy separates for women, and dark suits with bow ties or ties for men.

Footwear rules are also under sharp scrutiny. Sneakers are explicitly banned, with only elegant shoes or sandals with or without heels permitted. The move likely stems from past controversies, including the now-infamous 2015 incident when women were reportedly denied red carpet access for wearing flats. More recently, Jennifer Lawrence’s 2023 flip-flop moment, though explained as a matter of comfort rather than protest, reignited debates about Cannes' strict fashion standards.

A statement from the festival leaves little room for interpretation:

“The Festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.”

While proper attire is acceptable for general screenings, red carpet events will be firmly policed a stark reminder that at Cannes, fashion is a performance in its own right.

This year, as celebrities prepare to walk the iconic steps, anticipation builds not just for cinematic premieres but for how A-listers will navigate or perhaps subvert the new sartorial boundaries. Gone may be the days of sheer gowns and jaw-dropping silhouettes, but a new era of refined, creative interpretation awaits.