Our 20 Most Anticipated Premieres at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival

      It’s the most thrilling time of the year for film enthusiasts: the Cannes Film Festival is about to begin next week, taking place from May 12th to 23rd. In anticipation of the celebrations, we've compiled a list of what we're most eager to see. While surprises are certainly in store, we've identified twenty films that deserve your attention. Check out our selections below and make sure to subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest festival updates.

      All of a Sudden (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

      After his secretly filmed project Evil Does Not Exist and Gift, Ryusuke Hamaguchi is back with a more prominent feature, All of a Sudden. This French production features Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto and has secured the top position on our list of the 100 most-anticipated films of 2026, making it the Cannes premiere we’re most excited about. The French-language film, inspired by the real-life letters in Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono’s book You and I – The Illness Suddenly Get Worse, runs for just over three hours and 15 minutes, and we can’t wait to soak in every moment. – Jordan R.

      Bitter Christmas (Pedro Almodóvar)

      Following his first English-language film, Pedro Almodóvar returns to Spain for Bitter Christmas (translated from Amarga Navidad), featuring a cast that includes Bárbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit, and Quim Gutiérrez. Although it’s not a Cannes premiere (having debuted in Spain recently to critical acclaim), any new film from Almodóvar is certainly noteworthy. We prefer to know little about the plot, and we expect Sony Pictures Classics to release it in the U.S. this fall, as is customary. – Jordan R.

      Butterfly Jam (Kantemir Balagov)

      It’s been seven long years since Kantemir Balagov’s gripping second feature Beanpole was released, and the Russian director, now working in exile, is finally back. Butterfly Jam, featuring Riley Keough, Barry Keoghan, and Harry Melling, was shot by Jomo Fray, the cinematographer behind the remarkable Nickel Boys and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. This Directors’ Fortnight opener is described as telling the story of a father-son relationship within a struggling Circassian family in Newark. – Jordan R.

      Clarissa (Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri)

      Twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri return with their sophomore feature, Clarissa, following the praise for 2020’s This Is My Desire. NEON acquired the Nigerian duo's film in February, providing it with significant momentum in the Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes. Veteran actress Sophie Okonedo stars as the titular Clarissa, supported by David Oyelowo and Ayo Edibiri in what appear to be substantial roles for all three, with editing by Blair McClendon of Aftersun fame. Chuko adapted the screenplay, which reimagines Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, depicting Lagos socialite Clarissa preparing to host a party, only to have her childhood friends arrive and reflect on their lives throughout the night. – Luke H.

      The Diary of a Chambermaid (Radu Jude)

      After last year’s Dracula and Kontinental ’25, the prolific Radu Jude returns to Cannes after a significant hiatus. The Diary of a Chambermaid, set to premiere at Directors’ Fortnight, stars Ana Dumitrașcu from Dracula alongside a trio of French talent: Éric Rohmer regular Marie Rivière, Vincent Macaigne, and Mélanie Thierry. The narrative focuses on a Romanian housekeeper in Bordeaux, who spends her evenings rehearsing a stage adaptation of Octave Mirbeau’s classic. – Jordan R.

      Double Freedom (Lisandro Alonso)

      Bringing things full circle, Lisandro Alonso’s new film is a sequel to his acclaimed debut, La libertad. Double Freedom (also known as La libertad doble) revisits woodcutter Misael (Misael Saavedra) a quarter-century later. Although details are sparse, it's suggested to be a meta narrative about the significance of creative independence. After a lengthy gap between his last two films, we're thrilled to see Alonso back so soon. – Jordan R.

      The Dreamed Adventure (Valeska Grisebach)

      In another long-awaited return, Valeska Grisebach’s first film since 2017's Western will compete at Cannes. The Dreamed Adventure is set at the border of Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, focusing on a woman who agrees to help an old acquaintance. As she follows him on his adventure, she enters hazardous territory where she confronts her past and desires. Despite a limited filmography, Grisebach's subtly impactful style promises to deliver something