CANNESERIES

2026

Photos Raoul Rand

Six Days in Pink to Tell the World Differently

On the Croisette, red is no longer the only color of prestige. From April 23 to 28, CANNESERIES 2026 once again asserted its visual and cultural identity: a pink carpet, now the unmistakable signature of a festival that continues to redefine the contours of global audiovisual storytelling.

For six days, Cannes did not simply host screenings. The city became an open-air laboratory where international stars, bold creators, and industry professionals converged in search of the next story capable of capturing the attention of an image-saturated audience.

A Pink Carpet, Global Icons

From the opening ceremony, the tone was set. On the steps of the Palais des Festivals, flashes erupted around figures who embody the industry’s transformation.

K-pop star Jisoo, honored with the Rising Star Award, drew crowds reflecting her worldwide popularity. Alongside her, Adam Scott, recipient of the Canal+ Icon Award, symbolized a generation of actors who have moved seamlessly from film to series.

Then there was Richard Gadd, a singular creative voice, recognized for his artistic commitment representing a generation for whom intimacy has become universal storytelling material.

Three trajectories, three continents, one shared reality: series have become a global language.

A Powerful Opening, an Elegant Closing

The festival opened with Half Man, created by Richard Gadd a dark, introspective series exploring familial and social fractures. A fitting choice that reflected the tone of this year’s edition: more serious, more grounded in reality.

Six days later, the event closed with California Avenue, a refined British production screened ahead of the awards ceremony. Between these two moments, dozens of series from around the world lit up Cannes screens.

A Bold International Lineup

With series from 17 countries, the selection confirms a major shift: storytelling is no longer centered on Hollywood.

Works such as Guts (Finland), Snake Killer (Denmark), and The Red and the Black (Iran) reflect a diversity of perspectives. Here, sport becomes psychological drama, crime narratives are deconstructed, and history turns into tragic fresco.

The official selection is divided into: main competition, short-form series, documentary series

A diversity that mirrors the evolution of contemporary storytelling formats.

Juries Reflecting the Festival’s Spirit

The main competition jury was chaired by Isabel Coixet, joined by Simon Astier, Vincent Elbaz, and Lesli Linka Glatter.

Their role: to evaluate works that go beyond entertainment to question and interpret the contemporary world.

Awards: Between Artistry and Cultural Impact

The awards, presented during the closing ceremony, recognize: Best Series, Acting performances, Screenwriting, Music

Additional special prizes include: Canal+ Icon Award, Rising Star Award, Commitment Award, Audience Award

Together, they reflect the festival’s dual nature both artistic and highly visible in the media landscape.

When Reality and Fiction Converge

Another defining trend this year: the rise of documentary storytelling. Series like Cruyff and The Deal with Iran demonstrate how reality is no longer simply captured it is staged, structured, and dramatized.

At the same time, fiction is increasingly rooted in real-world issues. The result is a blurring of boundaries that aligns with audience demand for stories that are both truthful and crafted.

An Industry Under Pressure

Behind the glamour of the pink carpet lies a more complex reality. The market is saturated, competition is global, and each project must balance originality with accessibility.

Within the festival’s professional spaces, creators and producers grapple with these challenges, exploring new models in the age of streaming platforms and artificial intelligence.