The 80th Cannes Film Festival runs May 11-22, 2027, celebrating eight decades of cinema. For set-jetting travellers, Cannes opens the Riviera's greatest filming locations. Hitchcock shot To Catch a Thief here. Bond chased villains through Monaco. White Lotus films at the Hotel Martinez. Cinema's favourite backdrop since 1955.
No film festival in the world has a more spectacular natural backdrop than Cannes. Venice floats on a lagoon, Berlin moves through a cold-war cityscape, but Cannes unfolds along one of the most photogenic coastlines on earth — the Mediterranean meeting La Croisette at the foot of the Esterel massif. For eight decades, since the first festival in 1946 replaced a machine gun with a camera on its poster, the Festival de Cannes has grown into the world’s most influential film gathering. The 80th edition in 2027 — officially branded “Festival de Cannes: Edition Anniversaire” — runs May 11-22 and celebrates a legacy that extends far beyond the red carpet.
For the film-minded traveller, the Festival is only half the story. The French Riviera has been cinema’s favourite outdoor set for over 70 years, long before “set-jetting” became a travel category worth 66 billion dollars annually. Alfred Hitchcock shot To Catch a Thief along these corniche roads in 1955. James Bond drove through Monaco and Eze in GoldenEye. The White Lotus films its fourth season at the Hotel Martinez this very year. The Palais des Festivals steps — climbed by Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, and Quentin Tarantino — sit at the centre of the most concentrated film-location geography in Europe. This is the guide to experiencing both: the 80th Festival and the cinematic Riviera that surrounds it.
Cannes 2027 at a Glance — The 80th Edition
The 80th Festival de Cannes runs May 11-22, 2027 — twelve days of competition films, red-carpet galas, and industry dealmaking that transform a small Mediterranean city into the centre of the film world. Greece is the Country of Honour for the parallel Marche du Film (May 11-19), the global film market that now draws 16,000 industry participants annually. The Official Selection lineup is announced in April 2027 by General Delegate Thierry Fremaux, who marks his 25th year at the festival’s helm — a tenure that has steered Cannes through the digital revolution, the pandemic, and now into its ninth decade.
What the public can attend: The Cinema de la Plage on Mace Plage is free every night at 9:30 PM — classic films and reissues projected on an outdoor screen metres from the Mediterranean. The Quinzaine des Realisateurs sells tickets at approximately 8-10 EUR from a kiosk near the JW Marriott. The Cinephiles programme (3,000 places, apply February-March) grants access to screenings in smaller venues across Cannes. The new 3 Days in Cannes scheme offers free accreditation for travellers aged 18-28 with a written “love letter to cinema.”
What requires accreditation: Competition premieres, the red-carpet ceremonies, and most Marche du Film screenings are restricted to badge holders. The Marche du Film badge (459-629 EUR) is available only to film industry professionals with verifiable credentials. Opening and closing ceremonies are strictly invitation-only, but public screens on La Croisette broadcast the red-carpet live.
Cannes Ooh La La Croissant Tasting Tour
Start your Cannes morning where the festival energy lives — the streets around Rue Felix Faure and the covered market, exactly the same neighbourhood where the Palais des Festivals crowds gather and where Mr. Bean’s Holiday filmed its iconic red-carpet scene during an actual festival. A local food expert guides you through sweet and savoury croissant tastings with coffee pairings, walking the same Croisette-side streets where stars dodge photographers between premieres. The route passes the Marché Forville and the waterfront, covering the geography that makes Cannes both a festival town and a working Mediterranean port.
The Croisette: Hollywood’s French Riviera
The Boulevard de la Croisette is the most famous seafront promenade in European cinema, and not because of the festival. It was a movie set before Cannes ever gave out a Palme d’Or. Three grand palaces — the Carlton (1913), the Majestic (1926), and the Martinez (1929) — anchor its central stretch, each carrying its own reel of film history.
The Hotel Carlton at 58 Boulevard de la Croisette is the single most important film location in Cannes. Its distinctive twin domes (rumoured to have been inspired by the bust of La Belle Otero, a celebrated courtesan of the Belle Epoque) frame the skyline. In 1955, Grace Kelly — then a Hollywood star attending the festival — met Prince Rainier III of Monaco here during a photoshoot. Seven months later they were engaged, and by April 1956 they were married. Hitchcock had already chosen the Carlton as the filming location for To Catch a Thief the same year, using the hotel’s private beach — Carlton Plage — for the scene where Danielle (Kelly) drops John Robie (Cary Grant) from a speedboat. The hotel underwent a 350-million-euro restoration and reopened under InterContinental management in 2023, with the lobby and beach bar still recognisable to anyone who has watched the film.
The Hotel Martinez, at number 73, is an Art Deco masterpiece designed in 1929 and recently redesigned by Pierre-Yves Rochon. The two-Michelin-star La Palme d’Or restaurant is the traditional venue for the jury dinner during the festival. The Martinez is the principal filming location for White Lotus Season 4 (filming April-October 2026, expected release early 2027 on HBO), where it plays the fictional “White Lotus Cannes” property alongside the Chateau de la Messardiere in Saint-Tropez. Its suites range from 800 to 30,000 EUR per night during the festival.
The Hotel Majestic at number 10 directly faces the Palais des Festivals. Built in 1926, its lobby holds 2,500 black-and-white photographs of the stars who have passed through its doors. During the festival, it consumes 2 tonnes of lobster, 3 tonnes of fish, and 18,500 bottles of wine and champagne.
Day Trips from the Palais — Film Locations Beyond Cannes
The genius of Cannes as a base for set-jetting is its geography. Within an hour in any direction, you can stand where Hitchcock shot a car chase, where James Bond ordered a martini, or where Brigitte Bardot invented the modern Saint-Tropez. The coastal TER train (every 15-20 minutes during the festival) connects Cannes to all the major film locations along the Riviera.
Monaco and Monte Carlo (45-75 minutes by train) have been James Bond territory since Never Say Never Again (1983) and GoldenEye (1995). The Place du Casino and the Hotel de Paris are the location of the Iron Man 2 Whiplash attack scene (2010). The Monte Carlo Casino steps appear in Ocean’s 12. The Grand Prix circuit itself — filmed in GoldenEye’s Aston Martin chase — winds through the same streets where the real Formula 1 race runs. The Prince’s Palace and the Oceanographic Museum are Grace Kelly landmarks.
Eze Village (30 minutes from Cannes) is a medieval “eagle’s nest” village perched 427 metres above the Mediterranean. It appears in The Transporter — Jason Statham’s car chase through Eze’s cobbled lanes is one of the film’s most recognisable sequences — and in To Catch a Thief. The Jardin Exotique (8 EUR) offers panoramic views from the coast to Corsica on clear days. The Chemin de Nietzsche is a 4.2-kilometre walking trail down to the coastal train station.
Antibes (20-30 minutes by train) houses the Musee Picasso in the Chateau Grimaldi, Port Vauban (Europe’s largest luxury marina), and the old town streets that have appeared in French New Wave and contemporary films. Fort Carre, the 16th-century star fortress at the edge of Antibes, doubled for a North African fort in Never Say Never Again.
Monaco, Monte Carlo & Eze Village Half-Day Tour
The set-jetting essentials in half a day: drive the Moyenne Corniche — the same panoramic road featured in Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief car chase — into the medieval village of Eze (The Transporter location), then continue to Monte Carlo for the Casino, the Grand Prix circuit, and the Grace Kelly landmarks at the Prince’s Palace. A professional driver-guide handles the logistics in a premium 8-seater van, with hotel pickup in Cannes or Nice included. This is the most efficient way to cover the three most concentrated film-location sites on the Riviera in a single morning or afternoon, freeing the rest of your day for the festival itself.
Grasse (25-35 minutes, world perfume capital) offers free tours at Parfumerie Fragonard (30-minute guided visit) and workshops from 30-95 EUR to create your own fragrance. Grasse appears in period films set on the Riviera and was the setting for Patrick Suskind’s Perfume, adapted into a 2006 film. Saint-Paul-de-Vence (30-40 minutes) is a fortified medieval village of artists’ galleries and the Fondation Maeght, with works by Miro, Calder, Chagall, and Giacometti. The village appears in films requiring a preserved Provencal hilltop setting.
The French Riviera’s Greatest Movie Roles
Some film locations on the Riviera are so integral to the scenes shot there that the place becomes a character in its own right. These are the locations worth going out of your way to see — not because they are famous, but because the films that used them understood the landscape perfectly.
To Catch a Thief (Hitchcock, 1955) remains the ultimate Riviera travelogue disguised as a thriller. Beyond the Carlton, the film’s geography includes the Grande Corniche (D2564) — the panoramic road between Nice and Menton where Hitchcock shot the car chase with the Mediterranean plunging below. Saint-Jeannet and the Baou cliff — the villa of John Robie sits at the foot of this vertical rock face, 335 Route de Saint-Jeannet. The flower market on Boulevard Jean Jaures in Nice (often misidentified as Cours Saleya) is where the film’s market scene was shot.
GoldenEye (1995) uses the Monte Carlo Casino — Bond meets Xenia Onatopp at the bar — and the Grande Corniche and Col d’Eze for the Aston Martin DB5 vs Ferrari F355 GTS chase. The Port of Hercules in Monaco was the landing site for the stolen Tiger helicopter. Thorenc (inland from Grasse, on the D2/D5 roads) provided the winding mountain roads for which the production closed public roads for five days.
And God Created Woman (Vadim, 1956) transformed Saint-Tropez from a fishing village into a global destination overnight. The Quai Jean Jaures and Quai Frederic Mistral waterfronts are recognisable today, and Plage de Pampelonne at Ramatuelle — where the Club 55 beach restaurant was the film’s catering base — remains the most famous beach on the Riviera.
The Great Gatsby (Luhrmann, 2013) used the Chateau de la Napoule in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, 8 kilometres west of Cannes, for the establishing shots of Gatsby’s mansion. The chateau’s gardens are open to the public.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) filmed at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (the “gallery” scene) and the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat (which plays the fictional Grand Hotel Beaumont). La Rotonde Lenotre in Beaulieu-sur-Mer doubled for a Monte Carlo casino.
Iron Man 2 (2010) filmed the Monaco attack on the actual Place du Casino and Hotel de Paris, with the Grand Prix circuit used for the racetrack sequence. The Monaco Grand Prix weekend (June 3-6, 2027) falls immediately after the Cannes festival — making a two-week Riviera itinerary combining both events an exceptional proposition.
The Lerins Islands — a 15-minute ferry from the Vieux Port of Cannes (approximately 15 EUR round trip) — are the most underrated film-location day trip from the festival. Ile Sainte-Marguerite houses the Fort Royal, the actual prison of the legendary Man in the Iron Mask (a story that has inspired more than a dozen films). The Musee de la Mer (6 EUR) documents the island’s history. Ile Saint-Honorat is an active Cistercian monastery where monks produce wine and liqueur. The islands offer walking trails, natural swimming coves, and a perspective of Cannes from the sea that few festival visitors ever see.
Private Boat Tour Cannes Lerins Islands
A bilingual local skipper-guide takes you from the Old Port of Cannes to the Lerins archipelago in a private boat. Sainte-Marguerite Island for the Fort Royal and the Man in the Iron Mask prison — a film legend that has inspired screen adaptations for a century — plus swimming and snorkelling stops in the translucent coves between the islands. The return journey offers the best view of the Cannes skyline and the Palais des Festivals from the sea, exactly the angle used in aerial establishing shots of the festival.
Eating and Staying Between Premieres
The Riviera’s food culture is inseparable from its film culture. The same chefs who cook for the jury dinner at La Palme d’Or run the bistros in Le Suquet, Cannes’ oldest quarter. The same hilltop villages that appear in period films grow the olives and grapes that define Provencal cuisine.
Le Suquet is Cannes’ original settlement — a medieval fishing village climbing the hill west of the Vieux Port. The Musee de la Castre (109 steps to the top of a 12th-century castle tower, free panoramic view) is worth the climb. The Marche Forville is Cannes’ covered produce market, where locals buy socca (chickpea pancake, the Niçois staple), fresh goat cheese, and Provencal olives. Monday mornings the market transforms into a brocante (flea market).
For staying: Cannes accommodation during the festival is notoriously expensive and books 6-12 months ahead. The three iconic Croisette hotels — Carlton (from 1,100 EUR/night), Martinez (800-1,500 EUR/night for standard rooms, suites from 10,000), Majestic (700-1,200 EUR/night) — define the top tier. Mid-range options in the centre run 280-600 EUR/night. The most practical budget strategy: stay in Nice (120-220 EUR/night for 3-star) and take the 30-minute train each morning. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins (15 minutes by train) are mid-way compromises at 180-320 EUR/night.
Provence Wine Tour — Private Day Tour from Cannes
Escape the festival crowds into the Cotes de Provence vineyards, where the landscapes that appear in A Good Year (Russell Crowe) and Magic in the Moonlight (Woody Allen) produce the region’s rosé and red wines. A specialist wine guide leads a private tour of three top domaines, with tastings paired to the Provencal terroir. Hotel pickup in Cannes means you can join between screenings without losing a full day of the festival.
The three-day set-jetting itinerary recommended by the Afore film-locations guide works efficiently from a Cannes base: Day 1 covers the coastal loop — Cannes (Carlton) to Villefranche-sur-Mer to Villa Ephrussi to Cap-Ferrat to Eze to Monte Carlo — approximately 140 kilometres and 7 films. Day 2 heads inland: Cannes to Valbonne to Saint-Jeannet to Thorenc (the GoldenEye chase road) and lunch at Gourdon. Day 3 follows the Magic in the Moonlight route: Villa Eilenroc at Cap d’Antibes, Hotel Belles Rives for lunch, Mouans-Sartoux, and the Hotel Negresco in Nice.
If the intersection of luxury hotels, movie locations, and the Cannes festival appeals to you, the same impulse runs through other Pixidia Scenes guides. The White Lotus Season 4 is filming right now at the same Hotel Martinez described above — see our complete filming-locations guide at White Lotus Season 4: French Riviera Filming Locations for hotel-by-hotel coverage of Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Monaco. For comparisons with the world’s other great film festivals, our Berlinale 2027 guide covers Berlin’s cool-war geography, while the Sundance 2027 guide follows the festival to its new home in Boulder. The SXSW 2027 guide maps Austin’s film and music landscape, and our Goteborg Film Festival guide covers Scandinavia’s premier cinematic gathering.
- Book accommodation 6-12 months ahead for Cannes during the festival; consider Nice (30 min train, 40-60% cheaper)
- Apply for Cinephiles or 3 Days in Cannes accreditation in February-March 2027 for public screening access
- Plan Cinema de la Plage evenings (free, 9:30 PM, Mace Plage) — arrive early for the best spots
- Buy a multi-day TER train pass for day trips to Monaco (45 min), Antibes (20 min), and Grasse (35 min)
- Book the Monaco & Eze half-day tour for the most efficient set-jetting itinerary from Cannes
- Ping the download location of your Unsplash hero photo (ToS requirement: do this immediately after selection)
- Pack a light jacket or cashmere layer — May evenings on La Croisette cool to 15-18°C
- Visit the Carlton beach bar for a drink even if you cannot afford a room — it is a film-history landmark open to the public
- The Lerins Islands ferry runs daily from Cannes Vieux Port; last return at 17:00-18:30 depending on season
- Monaco Grand Prix (June 3-6, 2027) falls right after the festival — extend your stay for a two-week Riviera itinerary
Practical info
FAQ
When is the 80th Cannes Film Festival and what are the exact dates?
The 80th Cannes Film Festival officially named 'Festival de Cannes: Edition Anniversaire' runs May 11-22, 2027 at the Palais des Festivals on La Croisette. This 12-day programme marks eight decades since the first edition in 1946. The Official Selection is traditionally announced in April 2027 by General Delegate Thierry Fremaux. The Marche du Film runs May 11-19 with Greece as Country of Honour under the banner 'Ride the Greek Wave.' The 2026 Jury President was Park Chan-wook and the Palme d'Or went to Cristian Mungiu for Fjord.
Can the general public attend Cannes Film Festival screenings?
Yes but access is limited. Cinema de la Plage is free and open to all every night at 9:30 PM on Mace Plage with classic films and reissues. The Quinzaine des Realisateurs sells public tickets for approximately 8-10 EUR from a kiosk near the JW Marriott. The Cinephiles accreditation (about 3,000 places per year) is available by online application in February-March with a 24 EUR eco-contribution, requiring a motivation letter and proof of cinema subscription or film studies. The 3 Days in Cannes programme is free for ages 18-28 and requires a 'love letter to cinema' application. Opening and closing ceremonies remain strictly invitation-only, but large screens on La Croisette broadcast them live.
What are the most famous filming locations around Cannes for set-jetting?
The French Riviera offers 70+ years of film locations within easy reach of Cannes. The Hotel Carlton on La Croisette is where Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier in 1955 during the festival, and where Hitchcock filmed To Catch a Thief. The Grande Corniche road between Nice and Menton features in the same film's car chase. Eze medieval village appears in The Transporter and To Catch a Thief. The Monte Carlo Casino and Grand Prix circuit are in GoldenEye and Iron Man 2. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was the setting for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Fort Carre in Antibes doubled for a North African fort in Never Say Never Again.
What is the best way to reach Cannes from Nice Airport?
Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the main gateway, located 26-35 km from Cannes. The Ligne 81 bus shuttle runs approximately 19.50 EUR one way and takes 30-45 minutes. A taxi costs 80-88 EUR for up to 4 passengers and takes about 30 minutes. The train from Nice Saint-Augustin station to Cannes costs approximately 7 EUR and takes 50 minutes. A helicopter transfer takes 7 minutes and costs approximately 130 EUR per person. During the festival the train runs every 15-20 minutes between Nice and Cannes at approximately 8 EUR.
What is the weather like in Cannes during the Festival in May?
May in Cannes is warm and sunny with average daytime temperatures of 20-24°C and evening temperatures around 15-18°C. Sea temperatures in mid-May are around 18-20°C - swimmable but brisk. Rainfall is moderate with approximately 5-7 rainy days in May. The Mistral wind can occasionally bring cooler conditions, so a light jacket or cashmere layer is advisable for evening screenings and red-carpet viewing. The sun sets around 8:45-9:00 PM in mid-May, perfectly timed for the 9:30 PM Cinema de la Plage screenings.
How much does a Marche du Film badge cost for industry professionals?
The Marche du Film badge for industry professionals is priced at approximately 459 EUR (early bird rate before March 2027, approximately 505 EUR including VAT), 529 EUR (standard rate), and 629 EUR (late rate, approximately 692 EUR including VAT). The badge grants access to all festival screenings plus the Marche du Film trade show. Accreditation is restricted to film industry professionals with verifiable credentials. General public cannot purchase this badge.
Sources
- Festival de Cannes — Official Website — Festival de Cannes
- The Cannes Film Locations Guide: Cote d'Azur (14 films, 34 locations) — Afore
- On The Trail of To Catch a Thief In and Around Cannes — Culture Trip
- Cannes Film Festival confirms 2027 dates for 80th edition — IMDB News
- The Cote d'Azur, A Famous Film Set — Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Tourism
- Cannes Hotel Tips: Famous Addresses — The Hollywood Reporter
- Attending the Cannes Film Festival — Practical Guide — CannesGuide.com
- Greece Named Country of Honour for Cannes 2027 — Greek Reporter
- The White Lotus Season 4 Begins Filming in Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez — Monaco Tribune
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