Cannes Film Festival Bans Nudity on Red Carpet Amid Dress Code Crackdown

The Cannes Film Festival, long known for its glamorous and tightly regulated red carpet, has formally banned nudity on its iconic steps, updating its dress code policy just ahead of the 78th edition of the event, as per The AP.

In a newly published charter, Cannes organizers declared that “nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.” While the move reinforces longstanding expectations, the explicit language has drawn global attention — especially amid growing red carpet trends involving sheer and “nude” fashion, such as Bianca Censori’s recent headline-grabbing appearance at the Grammy Awards.

Festival press officers clarified Monday that the updated wording simply codifies rules already in practice.

“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,” a statement from the festival read.

The policy shift comes as the festival prepares to host the world’s biggest names in cinema from May 13 to 24. Cannes also reiterated that “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.”

Despite its rigid red carpet protocols — which include a black-tie dress code for evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière — Cannes has long been a platform for daring fashion. Celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, and Kendall Jenner have turned heads with bold looks that often pushed boundaries.

While the festival once drew criticism for turning away women not wearing high heels, such enforcement has become more relaxed in recent years. Nonetheless, Cannes remains the most strictly monitored red carpet in the world, famously banning selfies in 2018 — a rule that many A-listers continue to quietly flout.

The 2025 festival opens with a tribute to Robert De Niro, who will receive an honorary Palme d’Or, as Juliette Binoche leads this year’s jury.