Cannes Film Festival bans red-carpet nudity

The event formerly known as the International Film Festival, revealed changes to its dress code policy this year, including formally barring attendees from donning explicit outfits. For the sake of decency, nudity is not allowed in festival areas, including the red carpet, according to the new policy. The Cannes hospitality team will stop anyone violating the dress code from accessing the red carpet, the policy added.

The annual festival kicked off in France on Tuesday and will run for just under two weeks, ending on Saturday, May 24. The French Riviera resort town boasts one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world and often highlights both accredited filmmakers alongside complete unknowns. Risque fashion has become commonplace on the red carpet, as celebrities push the boundaries with less fabric and more skin. Bianca Censori, the wife of rapper Kanye West, received backlash in February for appearing naked in a transparent dress at the Grammy Awards’ red carpet. 

What other changes were made to the dress code? The festival’s new policy emphasized the importance of formal evening wear for attendees but suggested a black cocktail dress or dark pantsuit as a comparable alternative. The policy noted that heels were optional but banned sneakers. Large outfits with long trains were also prohibited, with the festival citing issues jamming the flow of traffic and complicating seating in the theater.