Here’s the Rules Celebs Will Have to Consider If They Want to Walk the Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet

The 78th edition of the International Film Festival is being held in Cannes from 13 to 24 May 2025. Celebrities attending the prestigious event must adhere to a number of strict guidelines.

From daring ensembles to extravagant fashion statements, here are the rules Hollywood stars are expected to follow when stepping onto the Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

While Cannes is known for bold fashion, there are dress code rules — revealing too much is off-limits. Nudity is strictly prohibited not just on the red carpet, but anywhere within the festival grounds, keeping elegance and decency at the forefront.

This rule, recently introduced ahead of the 2025 edition, quickly stirred conversation online. Netizens were quick to share their thoughts on social media — many in favor of the change.

One user commented, “Hope other galas/festivals follow this example.” Another declared, “It’s called ‘class.'” A third expressed support, “I’m for this. It’s not fashion anymore, it’s just being as naked as possible.” And some simply celebrated, “Finally.”

Evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière call for formal attire. Guests are expected to wear a tuxedo, long gown, or alternatives like a cocktail dress, a little black dress, or a dark pantsuit with a dressy top.

Big Dresses, Big Problem

Just a day before the festival opened, Cannes banned oversized gowns from the red carpet. Flowing dresses with long trains are no longer allowed, as they block walkways and make theater seating difficult.

Stylist Rose Forde — who works with talents like “The Substance” director Coralie Fargeat, actors Britt Lower, and Emma D’Arcy — learned about the sudden change through social media, just before a client reached out.

Reflecting on the festival’s strict dress standards, she remarked, “Cannes has always been a stickler for the rules and enforcing etiquette with dressing, so I am not totally surprised.” Forde had spent many evenings Googling “is X allowed on the Cannes carpet” in the past, even when styling menswear looks.

The ban on big skirts and long trains is meant to keep things moving on the red carpet. People wearing huge gowns often take too long, and each guest only gets about 10 minutes to walk.

In recent years, more influencers have shown up, trying to grab attention with the biggest, wildest outfits they can find. Cultural critic, Louis Pisano, who has been going to Cannes for 14 years, explained:

“They take up the most space on the red carpet and everybody gets clogged up. You’ve got 2,000, 3,000 people that have to get into this theater.”

With so many people trying to get inside, even the biggest stars are feeling the impact of the new rules. During the recent Cannes jury press conference, Halle Berry shared that she had to change her outfit because of the updated guidelines.

“I had an amazing dress by Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it’s too big of a train,” Berry explained, referring to her look for the opening night gala. The actress added, “I’m not going to break the rules. The nudity part is also probably a good rule.”

The movie star’s experience highlights just how sudden these rule changes have been. For fashion houses and designers, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Many red carpet outfits are planned months ahead, with couture pieces taking hours of careful work and costing a lot of money. The last-minute rules banning big or sheer gowns could hurt brands that have already prepared those styles for this year’s event.

While none of Forde’s opening night looks were affected, she pointed out how difficult this could be for others: Some people who had spent months working on custom pieces were likely panicking, which she felt was a shame after so much effort. She added that the timing of the change was very late in the day.

Say No to Selfies

At Cannes, snapping a selfie on the red carpet is strictly off-limits. Back in 2018, anyone heading up the carpet to a premiere had to pass a bold warning sign that read, “No selfies or photos on the red carpet, thank you!” And if someone tried to sneak a quick photo anyway, security guards were quick to step in and stop them.

The rule, enforced since that same year by festival director Thierry Frémaux, aims to preserve the event’s elegance. Frémaux once described the practice as “ridiculous and grotesque,” noting that the chaos from impromptu photos disrupts the flow.

“At the top of the red carpet, the pettiness and the hold up caused by the untimely disorder created by taking selfies hurts the quality of the climbing of the steps,” he explained.

His message was clear, but it wasn’t the first time he had taken a stand on the issue. Long before it became an official rule, Frémaux had already voiced his disapproval, saying in 2015 that he was “waging a campaign” against the practice.

Around the same time, Salma Hayek was stopped by a journalist asking for a quick selfie after a press event. “Aw, I wish you could, but I’d get in trouble with Thierry. Sorry!” she replied.

Flats Not Welcome?

Cannes faced backlash in 2015 when several women were denied entry to a premiere for wearing flat shoes instead of high heels. The controversy gained traction during the screening of “Carol” — a film centered on defying patriarchal norms.

Although Frémaux dismissed the claim on X, calling it a rumor, and the media office confirmed no official heel height requirement, experiences on the ground told a different story.

Filmmaker Asif Kapadia shared that his wife was initially turned away from a screening because her heels weren’t deemed high enough.

The issue wasn’t limited to one guest. Valeria Richter, a Danish producer, revealed she was stopped four times while trying to attend the screening of Gus Van Sant’s “The Sea of Trees.” She had chosen to wear flats due to a medical reason — part of her left foot had been amputated.

In a bold moment three years later, actress Kristen Stewart made headlines when she slipped off her towering Christian Louboutin heels while walking the red carpet for the premiere of “BlacKkKlansman.”

Her spontaneous move was widely seen as a protest against the festival’s long-standing, though unofficial, rule that women must wear heels. She said:

“I feel like you can’t ask people that any more. If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either.”

Stewart wasn’t alone in pushing back. Back in 2016, Julia Roberts and Sasha Lane also took a stand by walking the red carpet barefoot.

The Rule Breakers of the Red Carpet

Each decade, a fresh set of rebels arrives at Cannes, ready to shake up the red carpet. In 1986, French comedian Colouche ditched tradition by appearing in drag alongside Béatrice Dalle.

Others have drawn attention with their unconventional footwear choices — like Jennifer Lawrence, who wore flip-flops beneath her Dior gown in 2023. The actress admitted that she had no idea there was any controversy over people wearing flats or going barefoot on the red carpet, adding that her shoes were simply a size too big.

Then there are the provocateurs of fashion. In 2024, Bella Hadid stunned the crowd in a sheer Saint Laurent gown — just before Cannes officially banned transparent dresses.

Cannes Draws the Line

On Monday, May 12,2025, the Cannes Film Festival released a statement outlining its updated red carpet rules. The festival explained that the changes were made in line with “the institutional framework” of the event and French law.

“This year, the Cannes Film Festival has made explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect. 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 Cannes Film Festival remains one of the most prestigious events in the film world, but it comes with a strict set of fashion rules. From banning nudity and oversized gowns to rejecting selfies and enforcing formal attire, the festival aims to preserve elegance and order.

These rules, while sometimes controversial, reflect Cannes’ desire to maintain its long-standing traditions. Still, stars and stylists continue to push boundaries, often making bold statements on the red carpet. In the end, Cannes is not just about movies — it’s also a stage where fashion, formality, and individuality meet.