The Cannes Film Festival has kicked off with a bevvy of stylish celebrities and new, strict rules about what they can wear on the red carpet.
Established in 1946, and running this year from Tue, May 13, 2025 – Sat, May 24, 2025, the festival has been one of the most watched events in the celebrity and fashion calendar, with some of fashion history's most memorable looks appearing on the steps of the Palais des Festivals.
However, officials issued a curve ball to celebrity attendees this year by announcing that revealing dresses would not be permitted at the festival, for "decency reasons".
Dress code changes
Voluminous outfits, especially those with a large train, that "hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre" will also not be permitted.
According to the website, the festival's welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone who breaks these rules.
Halle Berry, who recently made headlines for her daring gown at the Met Gala, revealed that she had to change her original gown for the opening night of the gala.
"I had an amazing dress by Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it's too big of a train," Berry said at a jury press conference at the festival. "I’m not going to break the rules. The nudity part is also probably a good rule."
That said, when Heidi Klum took to the red carpet last night in a voluminous pale pink ruffled gown by Elie Saab, she was not escorted off the premises.
Rule-breaking is almost par for the course at Cannes, however, as stars have made headlines in the past for deserting protocol on the red carpet.
When the festival came under fire for reportedly turning away a number of women from a red carpet screening of Carol in 2015 due to their flat shoes, Cannes' director Thierry Frémaux denied that the footwear was obligatory, saying: "The rumour saying the festival insists on high heels for women on the red carpet is unfounded".
Then, in 2016, Julia Roberts ditched her heels altogether, walking the steps barefoot at the premiere of her film Money Monster. Kristen Stewart followed in her footsteps, so to speak, in 2019 when she took off her high heels on the red carpet.
Stars to expect this year
The first day of the festival was a glamorous one, with A-listers like Bella Hadid, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, and more walking the red carpet.
Other stars we hope to see at the festival include Tom Cruise, who will be attending the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning; Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson who star in Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love; Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Phoenix and Austin Butler who will attend the premiere of their film Eddington; and Kristen Stewart, who will debut her directorial debut The Chronology of Water on 16 May.
We'll be keeping an eye out for familiar faces on the red carpet as Paul Mescal stars alongside John O'Connor in Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, premiering on Wednesday 21 May. U2 star Bono will also bring Bono: Stories of Surrender, the film adaptation of his on-man stage play, to the festival on the 16 May.
We'll be updating this gallery with the best celebrity looks as the festival progresses, so check back for more dazzling red carpet ensembles.
