The program announcement for the Cannes Film Festival 2026 took place on Thursday in Paris. Artistic director Thierry Fremaux and festival president Iris Knobloch gathered at a press conference held in the French capital to unveil the official selection of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the Un Certain Regard section, and other program details.

According to last week's announcement, the opening film of Cannes 2026 will be La Vénus électrique (The Electric Kiss) by Pierre Salvadori, set in the 1920s. The film will be screened on May 12, following the opening ceremony presented by actress Eye Haïdara. Additionally, John Travolta's directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, will have its world premiere in the Cannes Premiere Selection section.

South Korean director Park Chan-wook, known for acclaimed works such as Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and No Other Choice, will serve as the jury president for Cannes 2026. Park Chan-wook will lead the jury that determines the winner of this year's Palme d'Or. Last year, Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident won the Cannes Palme d'Or.

The festival holds significant importance in the independent cinema and awards season calendar. Films like Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, and Sîrat, which premiered at Cannes last year, have received Oscar nominations and awards. Distributors and audiences will be on the lookout for films that will take center stage in this year's selection.

Among the famous names attending the festival, New Zealand director and creator of The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson, will receive an honorary Palme d'Or in recognition of his lifetime achievements. Actress, singer, director, and EGOT winner Barbra Streisand will also receive the same honor. The 79th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 12 to 23.