Cannes 2026: A Look at the Films Expected to Compete

As the 79th Cannes Film Festival (May 12–23) approaches, anticipation builds for the films vying for the prestigious Palme d’Or. However, several highly anticipated titles are opting for more traditional releases, leaving room for a formidable lineup of auteur-driven projects and potential surprises.

Blockbusters Bypassing the Croisette

Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, Pixar’s Toy Story 5 and Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian & Grogu are all expected to forgo a Cannes premiere in favor of broader theatrical rollouts [The Hollywood Reporter]. Similarly, Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey will not be presented at the festival, marking a continuation of the filmmaker’s absence from the festival circuit since Memento premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 [The Hollywood Reporter], [IMDb]. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, starring Tom Cruise and Sandra Hüller, is also slated for a Venice Film Festival debut in October [The Hollywood Reporter].

Returning Auteurs and New Voices

While some major titles are sitting this one out, Cannes 2026 is still poised to showcase a strong selection of films from established and emerging filmmakers. Ruben Östlund’s The Entertainment System Is Down will not be ready for the festival, pushing any hopes for a historic third Palme d’Or win to 2027 [The Hollywood Reporter], [World of Reel]. Terrence Malick’s biblical epic, The Way of the Wind, remains in post-production and is not expected to be completed in time for the festival [The Hollywood Reporter].

Highlights of the Expected Lineup

• Paweł Pawlikowski’s 1949: Inspired by Colm Tóibín’s The Magician, this black-and-white film stars Hanns Zischler and Sandra Hüller and explores the life of Thomas Mann in post-war Germany.
• Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven: Produced by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, this feature debut follows a family’s pilgrimage to nine Buddhist temples.
• Lars von Trier’s After: The Danish director’s first feature since 2018’s The House That Jack Built, reportedly explores themes of “death and life after death.”
• Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden: Hamaguchi’s first French-language film, starring Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, is inspired by a published correspondence between a philosopher and a medical anthropologist.
• Nathan Zellner & David Zellner’s Alpha Gang: A sci-fi comedy featuring Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, and Léa Seydoux, among others, about an alien invasion gone awry.
• Takashi Miike’s Awful Lieutenant: Tokyo or Untitled Charli XCX Horror Project: Miike could deliver one of two films: a remake of Bad Lieutenant or a Kyoto-set slasher starring Charli XCX.
• Léa Mysius’ The Birthday Party: An adaptation of Laurent Mauvignier’s novel, exploring the disruption of a family’s life during a birthday celebration.
• Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas: A tragicomedy about gender, set to premiere in Spain in March before potentially debuting at Cannes.
• Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard: Starring Kate and Rooney Mara, this existential drama follows twin sisters on a quest for “true love.”
• Florian Zeller’s Bunker: Starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, this psychological thriller explores a couple’s unraveling lives.
• Kantemir Balagov’s Butterfly Jam: Balagov’s English-language debut, featuring Riley Keough, Barry Keoghan, and Monica Bellucci, centers on a young wrestler.
• Corneliu Porumboiu’s The Costume (Working Title): A new feature from the Romanian New Wave director, details of which remain scarce.
• Lukas Dhont’s Coward: A period piece set during World War I, exploring themes of cowardice, and heroism.
• Antonin Baudry’s De Gaulle Diptych: A two-part biopic starring Simon Abkarian as Charles de Gaulle.
• July Jung’s Dora: Starring Sakura Ando and Kim Do-yeon, this film follows a woman carrying emotional scars who encounters another woman in a seaside village.
• Valeska Grisebach’s The Dreamed Adventure: Set in the border region between Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, this film explores themes of desire and risk.
• Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord: Starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, this film explores a couple’s struggles in a remote Norwegian town.
• Quentin Dupieux’s Full Phil: Starring Woody Harrelson and Kristen Stewart, this absurdist comedy promises a chaotic road trip.
• Marie Kreutzer’s Gentle Monster: Starring Léa Seydoux, this drama explores themes of trust, deception, love, and violence.
• Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell: Starring Riley Keough, this Tokyo-set thriller marks Refn’s return to Cannes.
• Na Hong-jin’s Hope: A sci-fi thriller starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.
• Nanni Moretti’s It Will Happen Tonight: A romantic drama starring Louis Garrel and Isabelle Huppert.
• Joel Coen’s Jack of Spades: Coen’s first solo directorial effort since 2021, starring Josh O’Connor, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller.
• Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Kokurojo: The Samurai and the Prisoner: A feudal mystery drama starring Masahiro Motoki and Masaki Suda.
• Yeon Sang-ho Lost Paradise: A suspenseful drama about a mother searching for her vanished son.
• Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur: A political fable starring a corporate executive facing a moral crisis.
• Koji Fukada Nagi Notes: A drama about a sculptor and her friend, starring Takako Matsu.
• Albert Serra’s Out of This World: Starring Riley Keough, this film explores a diplomatic mission during the Ukrainian war.
• James Gray’s Paper Tiger: Starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, this crime thriller marks Gray’s return to the genre.
• Asghar Farhadi’s Parallel Tales: Starring Isabelle Huppert and Virginie Efira, this film is set against the backdrop of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.
• Bruno Dumont’s Red Rocks: A Romeo and Juliet-style story set against the backdrop of rival gangs on the French Riviera.
• Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Sheep in the Box: Exploring themes of loss and technology, starring Haruka Ayase and Daigo.
• Antonin Baudry’s The Unknown: Starring Léa Seydoux, this psychological thriller explores identity and deception.
• Mike Leigh’s Untitled Next Feature: Details remain scarce, but the film reunites the director with several of his regular collaborators.

Cannes 2026 promises a diverse and compelling lineup, even with the absence of some major blockbusters. The festival will undoubtedly serve as a launchpad for new voices and a showcase for established auteurs, solidifying its position as a premier destination for cinematic excellence.