The 79th Cannes Film Festival, which is running until May 23, is a showcase of some of the year’s most anticipated films. Widely regarded as one of cinema’s highest honours, the prestigious Palme d’Or is awarded to the director of the best feature in competition at the festival.
The Palme d’Or was introduced in 1955 and, since 1998, has been crafted by Chopard. Made from 24k gold, each trophy takes more than 70 hours to complete.
This year, 11 Arab films will have their premiere at the festival, including three in the official competitions. Beyond the screenings and ceremonies, however, Cannes is equally defined by its red carpet. This year is no exception, with plenty of regional representation to boot.
Arab celebrities on the red carpet in Cannes
Palestinian-American siblings Bella and Anwar Hadid appeared together on the red carpet for the screening of Garance (Another Day).
Both wore Prada for the occasion, with Anwar in a gabardine tuxedo and Bella in a strapless grey satin dress with a crystal-embellished neckline, paired with a matching satin bomber jacket.
Also in a soft colour was Yasmina El Abd, the rising Egyptian actress and singer – and TN Magazine's February cover star – who arrived for the screening of Histoires Paralleles (Parallel Tales) wearing a pastel blue gown by Dior by Jonathan Anderson, and paired with My Dior jewellery.
El Abd was appointed a Dior global brand ambassador in April. Dior announced El Abd, 19, has, unusually, been signed across three facets of the maison, becoming the face of its beauty, high jewellery and main ready-to-wear collections.
Elsewhere, the perennially stylish Algerian-French model, actress and filmmaker Farida Khelfa arrived for the screening of L'Inconnue (The Unknown) dressed in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann.
The belted double-breasted trench coat came with and a popped collar in glossy grass green, and Khelfa paired it with pointy ankle-strap pumps.
Emirati-Yemeni singer and actress Balqees Fathi attended the screening of Karma, wearing a vintage Roberto Cavalli gown in old gold. Designed by the late designer himself, the strapless dress featured intricate structuring and a kick-flare hem. Fathi completed the look with Messika’s Night Owl earrings, ring and necklace from the Midnight Sun high jewellery collection.
Tunisian-Canadian actress and filmmaker Monia Chokri, meanwhile, has delivered several standout looks throughout the festival. She arrived at the opening ceremony in a sleek white Prada dress paired with an embellished black stole, before attending the screening of Si Tu Penses Bien in an off-shoulder top and matching cropped flared trousers by Schiaparelli.
Meanwhile, Saudi model Lama Alakeel walked the El ser querido (The Beloved) red carpet wearing a black and white gown by Saudi couture house Heba AlQurashi, paired with Bvlgari jewellery including a Divas’ Dream bracelet and earrings, and a Serpenti ring.
Lebanese director Nadine Labaki has made several appearances at the festival. A jury member for Un Certain Regard, she attended the screening of El ser querido alongside her husband, composer Khaled Mouzanar.
The pair wore matching tuxedos, him in Zegna, her in a masculine-inspired suit by Dior, finished with Cartier jewellery. Labaki also attended the Women in Motion Awards in a fitted dress from the Alexander McQueen spring/summer 2026 runway collection.
Lebanese influencer and entrepreneur Nour Arida attended the screening of Garance (Another Day) in a second-skin gown by Caroline’s Couture, finished with a Chopard high-jewellery necklace.
French-Algerian actress Leila Bekhti, president of the Un Certain Regard jury, has also made several standout appearances at the festival.
For the opening ceremony, she wore a vintage embellished lace gown from Guy Laroche’s autumn/winter 2002 collection, later changing into a dramatic Schiaparelli look featuring a cream corset with horn-like spikes at the hips.
Egyptian actress and Cartier global ambassador Yasmine Sabri has also attended several festival events, wearing a swaying fringed look by Rami Al Ali to a L’Oreal dinner before appearing the following day at the screening of Fatherland in a custom strapless column gown by Michael Cinco.
Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif made her Cannes debut in head-to-toe Chanel. Arriving for the screening of the documentary The Match, the gold medallist wore a double-breasted suit by Matthieu Blazy, cropped at the waist and finished with a white flower brooch and Coco Crush earrings.
Lebanese actress Jennifer Azar attended the festival in a fitted strapless gown by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, who also dressed model Maya Aboul Hosn in a figure-hugging gown matched to the red carpet.
Egyptian actor Omar El Saeed arrived at the opening ceremony in a double-breasted suit accented with an embroidered floral brooch by Palestinian designer Zaid Farouki, while Lebanese television presenter Raya Abirached wore a silver column gown by French-Egyptian label Maison Yeya, paired with Cartier jewellery.
Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim arrived at the opening ceremony in a black velvet Armani Prive gown, paired with custom jewellery by Marli.
As the brand’s regional ambassador, Njeim wore The Darling necklace, created especially for her and centred around a 10.7-carat pink tourmaline surrounded by diamonds, amethyst and black onyx. She completed the look with matching earrings featuring 8.03-carat pink tourmalines.
The Darling is particularly notable as Marli’s first high jewellery set, requiring more than 1,000 hours of craftsmanship.
Also attending the opening ceremony were Egyptian actor Asser Yassin and his wife, Kenzy Abdallah.
Yassin wore a tuxedo by Lebanese label Maison Du Mec, complete with a sash belt, while Abdullah chose a look by Lebanese designer Rami Kadi.
Egyptian actress Laila Ahmed Zaher made headlines, announcing her pregnancy alongside producer husband Hisham Gamal.
Zaher wore a white gown by Rami Kadi, trimmed with baby pink feathers and designed to highlight her baby bump, prompting speculation the couple are expecting a daughter.
Arab designers on the Cannes red carpet
Several international stars also turned to Arab designers for the occasion. Heidi Klum arrived in a structured peach gown by Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, featuring a sculpted bodice, hourglass silhouette and floral detailing.
Meanwhile, American actress and professional kiteboarder Maika Monroe chose a metallic silver gown by Saudi label Ashi Studio. With a plunging neckline and sweeping hemline pooling around the feet, the sharply tailored look was paired with slicked-back hair.
Elsewhere, Omani couture maison Yoland dressed Uzbek model Vialina Lemann. Backless and in black velvet, her look was heavily embellished across the bodice, with a matching cape held in place with a beaded clasp.
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