As the Cannes Film Festival approaches, beginning May 13, 2025, the event has introduced a stricter dress code for attendees, which will impact the highly anticipated red carpet moments. Stars and fashion icons alike will need to update their styling to the updated guidelines during the festival, which will run until May 24.
The official Cannes Film Festival website now states that "nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival" due to "decency reasons."
This means that the daring, see-through gowns and 'naked' dresses that have become popular in recent years will be off-limits. The move follows years of controversy surrounding fashion choices that have sometimes left little to the imagination and have become iconic fashion moments.
The update also includes a ban on "voluminous outfits," particularly those with large trains that obstruct the flow of traffic or complicate seating arrangements at the festival's screenings.
These new rules are an attempt to maintain a balance between high fashion and decorum at the prestigious event. For those attending the evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, where the most glamorous premieres take place, attendees will be required to wear formal eveningwear, such as tuxedos for men and long dresses for women.
Alternative options include a little black dress, a cocktail dress, or a dark-colored pantsuit. The dress code also stipulates that guests wear "elegant shoes" or sandals, but sneakers are strictly prohibited.
The dress code changes have stirred up debates about the future of the red carpet and its role in setting fashion trends. The festival has been known for its striking and sometimes controversial fashion moments, like Bella Hadid's sheer Saint Laurent gown in 2024.
This year, with the nudity and voluminous outfit bans in place, questions remain about how far attendees will go to make a fashion statement without breaking the rules.
The festival’s prohibition on nude attire raises the question of whether daring outfits that suggest nudity, including dresses with sheer panels, will be considered acceptable.
As the festival kicks off, all eyes will be on the red carpet, how the rules are enforced, and whether any A-list stars will challenge the dress code in creative ways.