Palais des Festivals et des Congrès
Home of the Cannes Film Festival and its red-carpet steps
- Admission
- Free to see the exterior
- Tours and events are paid
- Hours
- Exterior and steps freely accessible outside events; interior only for events or guided to...
- Where
- Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Directions
- Directions
The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès is the large modern building on the Cannes seafront, between the Vieux Port and the start of the Boulevard de la Croisette, that hosts the Cannes Film Festival each May. Opened in 1982 to replace an earlier festival hall on the Croisette, it also welcomes major international events throughout the year, from property and television markets to the Cannes Lions advertising festival.
For most visitors, the main attraction is the famous flight of steps, the montée des marches, which film stars climb on the red carpet during the festival. Outside event times, anyone can walk up to the steps and take a photograph. Around the building, the Allée des Étoiles preserves the handprints of film personalities set into the pavement, a popular trail for cinema fans. The Cannes tourist office is located at the foot of the Palais and is the place to ask about guided tours, which occasionally give access to parts of the interior.
The festival itself began in 1946, after a first edition planned for 1939 was cancelled by the outbreak of war, and it was originally held in the Municipal Casino before moving into dedicated buildings. During the festival, access around the Palais is restricted to accredited guests, so the best time to see the steps up close is outside the main events. A visit takes only a short time and can be combined with the nearby Vieux Port and the old quarter of Le Suquet.
Categories
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Hours & Fees
- Open
- Exterior and steps freely accessible outside events; interior only for events or guided tours booked through the tourist office.
- Admission
- Free to see the exterior; tours and events are paid.
Hours and prices change, especially out of season. Check with the venue before you go.
Nearby Attractions
Other places to visit in Cannes
Île Saint-Honorat and Lérins Abbey
The monks' island of Lérins, with vineyards and a fortified monastery
Churches · Heritage Trails
Île Sainte-Marguerite
Pine forests, coves and the prison of the Man in the Iron Mask
Guided Experiences · Historic Architecture
Boulevard de la Croisette
The palm-lined seafront boulevard of Riviera glamour
Free Coastal Promenades · Festivals
Le Suquet
The hilltop old quarter of Cannes, with views over the bay
Free Churches · Heritage Trails
Questions people ask
Quick Facts
Free to see the exterior
Tours and events are paid.
Best Time to Visit
May to June and September are the most pleasant, with warm weather and fewer crowds than July and August; the film festival in May brings glamour but very high prices and booked-out hotels.