The Cannes Film Festival, famous for its glamorous red carpet, has made a major change. Ahead of its 78th edition, the festival clearly stated that “nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.”
Although the event never encouraged nudity before, this is the first time it has been officially banned.
Rule Aims to Clarify Existing Standards
The announcement came just before the festival opened. Recently, revealing outfits and sheer “nude dresses” have become more popular. For example, Bianca Censori’s bold outfit at the Grammys made headlines. Because of this trend, Cannes’ move drew extra attention.
When reporters asked for more details, festival press officers explained that the rule was not new. Instead, they said Cannes had just “made explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect.”
They added, “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.”
Large Outfits Also Restricted
Besides banning nudity, the festival added another rule. It now discourages oversized clothing, especially those with long trains that block movement or make seating difficult. According to the updated policy, “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.”
Stars Often Push the Boundaries
Despite these rules, celebrities have often worn daring outfits at Cannes. Stars like Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, and Kendall Jenner have shown skin on the red carpet in past years. Traditionally, the festival requires black tie and evening gowns for screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
At times, Cannes security even stopped women for not wearing high heels, though that has happened less in recent years.
Selfies Still Banned, But Stars Bend Rules
Back in 2018, Cannes banned red carpet selfies. Festival director Thierry Frémaux called them “grotesque.” Even so, some A-list celebrities still sneak in a photo or two on the famous Palais steps.
Festival Begins Tuesday
The 78th Cannes Film Festival officially starts on Tuesday. With new rules in place, the organizers hope to maintain elegance while avoiding disruptions on the red carpet.
