One of the most recurrent questions we receive this time of the year is, “How can I attend screenings in Cannes?” If you’ve looked around the net, you probably came up with a blank on this one. So here’s the inside deal: there are ways in 2026, but it’s not quite the glamorous process you think it is.
The Cannes festival is basically two things: a promotional showcase and a trade market. If you are neither press nor industry, nothing is done to make life easy for you. You should know that even within the accredited press, for example, there is a strict pecking order. Some journalists are definitely favoured over others.
Attending screenings in Cannes as a Cinephile
So the simple movie fan that wants to catch a few films has little chance. It is possible to attend screenings outside the Palais, usually at smaller venues. The city of Cannes insisted that the festival make some tickets available, and set up the Cannes Cinema body (link below) to handle this. So it is possible to obtain tickets. But the Cannes Cinema site specifies that they are primarily for people with some sort of non-professional connection to movies, such as film clubs, teachers, etc. I know there is some lee-way on this.
Confusing? Just wait until you hit town! Getting to see anything involves a lot of walking from one source of information to another, getting up early and queuing. But you are at Cannes, and might just spot someone half-famous in the street.
FOR ACCREDITED CINEPHILES (FILM LOVERS):
If you went through the process of signing up as a Cinephile, you can pick up your film buff badge at the Gare Maritime on Sunday 10 May from 9 am to 6 pm and from Wednesday 13 May, every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
An online ticketing system allows accredited persons to reserve seats for the screenings in advance (the site will open on May 4 and reservations will be possible from May 8).
NOTE: submissions are accepted in February, with notifications sent out in March.
You can still catch movies without accreditation – but it’s tough. 24 hours before each screening, seats not reserved by accredited members are offered on the Festival de Cannes’ single ticketing website (below). Non-accredited persons will have to create a personal “general public” account on the online ticketing service. Then check the site regularly to see what is available.
Reservation: seats not reserved by accredited members are accessible on the general public platform 24 hours before each session.
Accessible theatres: Alexandre III, La Licorne (outside the Official Selection), Le Raimu, Studio 13 and the Espace Miramar (for the Critics’ Week).
Important: No “last minute” queue for non-accredited persons. Ticket required to enter. Presentation 25 min before the session. No entry will be accepted after the start of the film (even with a ticket).
Cancellation: possible up to 1 hour before the screening. Please note: in case of no-show without cancellation, a penalty will be applied to your profile.
2. The Filmmakers’ Fortnight (ticketing for a fee)
It is the only section offering single or subscription ticket sales.
Where to buy? online using your “General Public” account (see procedure above) or on site (Comptoirs rue Amouretti) from 11 May from 10 am to 7 pm and from 13 May (until Friday 22), from 8 am to 7 pm.
Prices: Single ticket: €8 | Subscription 6 tickets: €40.
3. ACID (Association of Independent Cinema for its Distribution)
The ACID sessions at the Arcades cinema: a “last minute” queue will be accessible to all before the sessions. Get there an hour early at the very least.
4. Cinema de la Plage (not a sidebar, but a fun way to watch movies)
Cinéma de la Plage: free admission for all, every evening at 10 p.m. (Macé Beach close to the Palais), subject to availability. There is often an interesting selection, but no movies in competition.
5. Beg!
1. Every year, people get access to screenings by simply asking. In practice, they wait in front of the relevant cinemas with a sign asking for an invitation, usually specifying the movie they want to see. People with tickets that they are not going to use, sometimes just give them away. Why would they do this? Because if they request tickets but do not use them, they might be refused the next time. So best to let someone else use them and stay in the system.
In practice, trying to catch a movie – particularly a specific movie – is incredibly difficult in Cannes. It’s actually designed to be that way. So I recommend that you go with the flow. If your plan doesn’t work out, go with whatever other idea appears.
Michael Leahy has attended the Cannes Film festival as well as other Cannes events on many occasions over the past 20 years. He is also the author of the Cannes Starter Guide.
Remember, hotels for the Cannes Film festival start booking up as early as October or November of the previous year. So don’t forget to book your Cannes accommodation in time.
