Evening Wear Required for Gala Screenings
If stars are attending one of the gala screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, then they’ll need to don evening wear (such as a long dress or tuxedo). For those looking for a little fashion inspo, they can check out the Giorgio Armani tux Michael B. Jordan wore to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival screening of his movie Fahrenheit 451.
But Alternative Options Are Allowed
However, the festival's charter notes attendees "may also wear 'a little black dress,' a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants" or a "black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie" as an alternative.
Though it wasn’t for a gala screening, Emma Stone rocked an LBD with lace sleeves by Oscar de la Renta for an Irrational Man press event at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
No Sneakers at the Gala Screenings
As for footwear, the festival's website notes attendeees can wear "elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel (no sneakers)."
While Vogue notes it’s never been a formally written rule that women have to wear heels on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, it appears to have been the expectation.
"Last night I was stopped on the Cannes red carpet and told by this idiotic security guard that I couldn’t get into this premiere because I was wearing flats," Variety’s former Editor in Chief Claudia Eller tweeted in 2019. "I threatened to post this video on our Variety website. I got in."
Some actresses—including Julia Roberts, Pamela Anderson and Kristen Stewart—have taken off their shoes on the red carpet and walked barefoot.
"There’s definitely a distinct code, right?” The Twilight alum told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. "People get very upset at you if you don’t wear heels or something, whatever. But I feel like you can’t ask people that anymore. It’s just kind of a given. Like if you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either. Which is nice ‘cause that’s different. Even four years ago, it was not even a question—you have to wear a dress. But now, it’s awesome, you can’t do that anymore."
No Big Bags
While a small clutch like the one Salma Hayek brought to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival is totally allowed, the charter makes it clear that "tote-bags, backpacks or large bags are prohibited during gala screenings."
No "Voluminous Outfits" or Large Trains
In 2025, the Cannes Film Festival declared a new fashion no-no: "Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.”
This left Halle Berry with a monster-size problem as she worried one of her gowns may be bending the rule.
"I had an amazing dress by Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it’s too big of a train," the Monster's Ball star, who served on that year's jury, told Variety at the time. "I’m not going to break the rules."
So, she decided to "make a pivot," Berry continued, and wore a black and white striped dress by Jacquemus instead.
However, Heidi Klum said auf wiedersehen to the new rule, with the supermodel strutting down the red carpet in a pink Elie Saab gown that featured a notable train that same year.
No Nudity
Think nude dresses like the one Bella Hadid wore to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival are trés chic? Well, you might be seeing fewer of them on the event's red carpet.
"For decency reasons," the charter reads, "nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival."
