Cannes 2026 Closing Weekend: Palme d’Or Winner Set for Saturday Night Ceremony
The 79th Cannes Film Festival reaches its final stretch this weekend, with the closing ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Jury president Juliette Binoche will announce the Palme d’Or winner during the live broadcast on France Télévisions, capping a 12-day run that has reshuffled the awards conversation heading into the fall season.
This year’s competition lineup featured 22 films, with a mix of returning auteurs and first-time competitors. The buzz from press screenings, critic polls, and trade reactions has narrowed the field to a handful of front-runners. Below is a clear picture of where things stand before the envelopes are opened.
If you have been following the festival from the start, you can revisit our coverage of the Palme d’Or front-runners earlier in the week for context on how the race developed.
Who Is Leading the Palme d’Or Race
The critics’ grid published by Screen International, the unofficial barometer of jury sentiment, has been topped for most of the festival by “Fatherland,” a sprawling family drama directed by Joachim Trier. The film holds the highest average score among international critics polled, and its lead actor performances have drawn early Oscar mentions in trade publications.
Close behind sits “The Secret Agent” from Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, a political thriller set in 1977. Variety has called it the most politically charged competition entry this year, and the nine-minute standing ovation at its premiere is among the longest recorded at the festival so far. According to Reuters reporting from the Croisette, the film has gained momentum with European jurors in particular.
Other contenders staying in the conversation include Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” and Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme.” Andy Garcia’s directorial entry “Diamond” also received strong notices, and we covered the reaction to that nine-minute Cannes ovation earlier this month.
The Jury and How They Vote
Juliette Binoche leads a nine-member jury that includes American actor Halle Berry, Indian director Payal Kapadia, and Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas. The jury votes by simple majority, and Binoche holds a tiebreaker if the panel splits evenly. The deliberations took place behind closed doors at Hôtel Martinez beginning Thursday evening.
Beyond the Palme d’Or, the jury awards the Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and the acting prizes. Industry watchers expect Jennifer Lawrence to be in serious contention for Best Actress for her performance in “Die My Love.”
What Comes After Saturday Night
The winning film typically secures a major U.S. distributor within days. Neon, which has handled the last six Palme d’Or winners, is again the bookmaker’s favorite to pick up the top prize. A24, MUBI, and Sony Pictures Classics have also been active buyers during the festival market.
The closing film, screening out of competition, is “Une Vie Rêvée” by French director Morgan Simon. The festival traditionally selects a lighter title to end the program after the awards are announced.
Other Festival Highlights Worth Noting
The Un Certain Regard sidebar wrapped Friday with the top prize going to “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” by Diego Céspedes, his feature debut. The Camera d’Or for best first film is also announced Saturday and considers entries from across all sections.
Television and streaming announcements have run parallel to the film slate. The festival’s growing TV component, Canneseries, concluded earlier in May. In broader entertainment news this month, the end of “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert on May 21 drew significant U.S. viewership and closed a 32-year CBS franchise. The American Music Awards are also approaching, with Taylor Swift positioned to set a new record.
How to Watch the Ceremony
The closing ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. CEST on Saturday, May 23. France Télévisions broadcasts the event live in France. International viewers can stream the ceremony through the official Festival de Cannes YouTube channel, which carries the full red carpet and awards presentation with English subtitles.
Press conferences with the winning filmmakers follow the ceremony on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The full list of awards is published on the festival’s official website shortly after the broadcast ends.
The 80th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled for May 12 to 23, 2027.
