Cannes Film Festival Implements New Dress Code: No Nudity and Goodbye to Oversized Gowns

Tanisha Sharma May 13, 2025May 13, 2025 Cannes 2025 fashion rules, Cannes Film Festival dress code, Cannes Film Festival fashion update, Cannes voluminous outfit ban, celebrity fashion limitations, celebrity red carpet restrictions, entertainment industry dress standards, film festival dress regulations, French festival decency guidelines, red carpet nudity ban

The prestigious film festival formalizes rules against nudity and excessive fashion as it prepares for its 78th edition in 2025

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In a significant shift that has fashion enthusiasts and film industry professionals talking, the Cannes Film Festival has officially introduced a new “decency” dress code ahead of its 78th edition in 2025. The updated guidelines explicitly ban nudity on the red carpet and restrict oversized outfits that could disrupt the event’s flow. This move marks a notable evolution in the festival’s approach to maintaining its prestigious atmosphere while adapting to modern fashion trends.

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Red Carpet Restrictions: What’s Changing at Cannes

The newly formalized dress code specifically prohibits full nudity on the red carpet and throughout the festival grounds. While these rules were informally observed in previous years, the festival has now made them explicit to ensure compliance with both the event’s institutional framework and French law.

Fashion at Cannes has always been about elegance and artistic expression, but recent incidents seem to have prompted officials to draw clearer boundaries. The ban follows several high-profile controversies, including a topless protester who made headlines in 2022 by storming the red carpet. More recently, Bianca Censori’s sheer ensemble at the 2025 Grammys reportedly influenced the policy update, highlighting the growing tension between provocative fashion statements and traditional event decorum.

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Beyond Nudity: Size Matters in Cannes’ New Guidelines

The festival’s new regulations extend beyond nudity to address practical concerns about the event’s operation. Particularly notable is the prohibition on “voluminous” outfits, especially those featuring extensive trains. These restrictions weren’t implemented on aesthetic grounds but rather to address logistical challenges.

According to festival organizers, oversized gowns with dramatic trains can:

Obstruct the movement of other guests on the red carpet
Complicate seating arrangements within theaters
Create potential safety hazards in crowded spaces

The festival has reserved the right to deny red carpet access to anyone whose attire might impede the smooth function of the event—a practical consideration that prioritizes the collective experience over individual fashion statements.

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Finding Balance: Glamour Meets Practicality

While the new dress code clearly restricts certain extremes, it leaves room for interpretation regarding many fashion choices. The guidelines don’t seek to regulate fashion broadly but rather to ensure safety, comfort, and respect for the festival’s environment.

Some ambiguity remains about whether medium-sized trains or elaborate gowns similar to what celebrities have worn in previous years—such as Greta Gerwig’s much-discussed Barbie-pink ensemble—would fall within the acceptable range. What seems clear is that the festival is pushing back against the trend of both “naked dresses” and impractically oversized gowns that have dominated red carpets in recent years.

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The Future of Festival Fashion

This policy update reflects a broader balancing act: maintaining the glamour and artistic expression that Cannes is known for while ensuring practical concerns don’t undermine the festival experience. As the film industry continues to evolve, so too does the visual culture surrounding it.

For attendees of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the message is clear—express yourself through fashion, but remember that the event celebrates film first, with fashion serving as a complementary art form rather than a potential disruption.

The 2025 edition will likely showcase how creative professionals navigate these new boundaries, potentially sparking fresh fashion innovations that capture attention without crossing the newly clarified lines of festival decorum.