Cannes Film Festival’s 2026 Palme d’Or race wide open as critics await surprise winner

Jake CoyleSat, May 23, 2026 at 8:31 AM UTC

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The 79th Cannes Film Festival concludes this Saturday, culminating in the presentation of cinema’s most coveted prize, the Palme d’Or. This year, the competition appears unusually open, with no clear frontrunner emerging from what many critics have described as a somewhat subdued festival.

Hollywood’s notable absence and a general struggle for many selections to captivate critics have contributed to a less vibrant atmosphere than typically associated with Cannes.

The usual global buzz has been intermittent, leaving the nine-member jury, led by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, with a broad spectrum of possibilities for the top honour. Securing the Palme d’Or invariably elevates a film’s international standing and often positions it as a strong contender for Oscar recognition.

Among the films that garnered significant critical attention were Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, a black-and-white post-war reflection on art and politics; Japanese auteur Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, a poignant three-hour epic on elder care; Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur, a drama exploring crime and punishment in contemporary Russia; and Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, a Norwegian-set narrative delving into the complexities of child services.

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Iris Lebedeva, director Andrey Zvyagintsev and Dmitriy Mazurov pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Minotaur' at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Millie Turner/Invision/AP)

However, a potential dark horse emerged late in the festival: Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi's The Black Ball, a sprawling Spanish film about three gay men across generations, which received one of Cannes' most enthusiastic receptions.

Predicting the Palme d’Or winner remains notoriously difficult, with jury deliberations conducted in complete privacy.

Any of the 22 films in competition could claim the prize. This year’s jury also includes prominent figures such as Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, and Stellan Skarsgård. Winners of the Palme d'Or and other awards, including best actress, best actor, and the grand prix, are invited back for the closing ceremony, aware they have won something, but not the specific accolade.

Director Pawel Pawlikowski poses during a photocall for the film ‘Fatherland’ in competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival (REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo)

Adding an intriguing industry note, speciality label Neon boasts an extraordinary streak, having been associated with the last six Palme d’Or winners. This includes last year’s champion, Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, and the 2024 winner, Anora, which subsequently secured a Best Picture Oscar.

The ceremony will, however, miss its intended tribute honouree. Barbra Streisand, slated to receive an honorary Palme d’Or, is unable to attend due to a knee injury, though the festival still plans to honour her contributions.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”