Cannes Draws the Line: No Nudity Allowed at This Year‍‍`s Festival

Cannes Film Festival has made its stance official: nudity is no longer welcome on the red carpet—or anywhere else within the festival grounds. The updated policy, released just as the 78th edition kicks off, comes amidst the ongoing trend of sheer and “nude dresses” that have become red carpet staples. The festival clarified in its dress code that “nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.”

While nudity had never been explicitly encouraged before, the festival’s press office explained that the charter now simply makes long-standing rules more explicit. “The aim is not to regulate attire per se, but to prohibit full nudity on the red carpet, in accordance with the institutional framework of the event and French law,” the statement read.

The policy has drawn attention partly due to recent high-profile outfits, such as Bianca Censori’s at the Grammys, and because Cannes is one of the most tightly regulated red carpets in the world. Despite past appearances from stars like Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, and Kendall Jenner flaunting skin, Cannes is now firm on its boundaries.

Additionally, the festival is cracking down on “voluminous outfits” with large trains that could disrupt the flow of guests or make theater seating difficult. Traditional rules still apply for evening premieres at the Grand Théâtre Lumière—black tie and formal evening wear remain mandatory. Although no longer strictly enforced, Cannes has in the past turned women away for not wearing high heels.

This isn’t the first time Cannes has taken a hard stance: selfies were banned in 2018, with festival director Thierry Frémaux calling them “grotesque”—though A-listers still occasionally snap quick shots on the iconic Palais steps.