Cannes Film Festival bans nudity and “voluminous outfits” on red carpet

13 May, 2025

Bella Hadid at Cannes Film Festival 2025

The Cannes Film Festival have shared an updated red carpet dress code for this year’s edition – essentially banning full nudity.

The festival, which began today (May 13), shared an update to the dress code on its website and warned that guests not adhering to the rules won’t have access to the red carpet.

Under the Cannes Film Festival FAQs section, it reads: “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival. Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.

“The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.”

Halle Berry, serving as a member of the jury at the festival this year, said yesterday that she had to make a last-minute outfit change as a result. She shared at a press conference: “I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big. I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good rule,” she added.

The naked dress trend has risen in popularity in recent years, with model Bella Hadid arriving in a dress with a sheer halter-neck top just last year. This year, Hadid opted for a black cowl neck dress that appeared to nod at the new rules with a hip-high slit, asymmetrical back and exposed sides.

Also last year, photographer Nadia Lee Cohen and actress Vicky Krieps wore a see-through knit dress and a transparent gown respectively, while the likes of Kendall Jenner and Elle Fanning have sported nipple-baring dresses in recent years.

It doesn’t appear as though any one incident or fashion choice has prompted festival bosses to update the charter, however. A festival rep told The Hollywood Reporter that it was simply updated to reflect “certain rules that have long been in effect” and “prohibit full nudity on the carpet.”

Elsewhere at the festival, which runs until May 24, the Honorary Palme d’Or was awarded to Robert De Niro and the musical comedy-drama Leave One Day made history as the first debut film to open the festival.

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