Palais des Festivals (Cannes Festival Hall)

If there’s one place that truly captures the spirit of Cannes, this is it. A cinematic haven since 1946, Cannes has repeatedly transformed its infrastructure to keep up with its world-famous film festival. The earliest editions were held at the municipal casino, before the Palais Croisette was built in 1947. It wasn’t until 1983, with the opening of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, that the event truly began to take off. As of 2025, the Cannes Film Festival has celebrated 78 consecutive editions — honoring countless filmmakers and actors, and helping to launch many of them into the global spotlight. It’s become a true star-making machine — and not just for the films. The red carpet has seen its fair share of jaw-dropping gowns, behind-the-scenes gossip, and headline-making moments. Nothing escapes the spotlight here. Speaking of which, who could forget the photographers’ boycott in 1983, when Isabelle Adjani, having refused to pose for the press earlier, walked the red carpet to near silence? Or the unforgettable moment in 2003, when Diane Kruger, arriving late from a film set, had her hair washed with Evian bottles on the tarmac, just in time to climb the stairs? With each passing year, the list of stories grows longer. Nicknamed “The Bunker” in its early days due to its massive, angular architecture, the Palais des Festivals continues to make waves — not just for its legendary festival, but also for the many other major events it hosts throughout the year. And before you rush off, don’t skip the final stop: strike a pose on the iconic 24 steps, and let your inner movie star shine.