The Tamesis
Look! The 2026 Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off in France today. Over the next two weeks, Hollywood royalty will descend on the Promenade for this glamorous event – premiering a variety of films while enjoying views of the Mediterranean Sea. Or even better? And with that comes the eye-catching designer red carpet looks: after all, the festival has a history of delivering unforgettable outfits, whether it’s stars posing and riffing on the official stage or off-duty couture for traveling to and from the airport.
In honor of this year’s event, we’re thinking: What did the Cannes carpet look like 20 years ago? A quick look back at 2006 reveals some great red carpet moments worth looking back on. I mean, what year was Beyoncé doing this amazing dramatic thing at the Cannes Film Festival? dream girl– A beach-worthy pose? Or Avril Lavigne wearing pop-punk stripes?
In the early days, the Cannes carpet was all about glitz and glamour: Formal evening wear – almost strictly – was the name of the game. After all, the 2006 Cannes Film Festival still had an extremely strict dress code: attendees had to abide by rules such as no flats for women and evening gowns for men. As a result, many A-list guests gravitated toward the expected red carpet standards: floor-length gowns and custom tuxedos taking up the entire space.
Similar to the annual Oscars, stars played it safe but in style. Michelle Yeoh and other actors appeared in yellow chiffon dresses. beyoncé premiere dream girl Wearing a blue patterned halterneck dress from House of Deréon (her and Tina Knowles’ former label). It’s not so much about a bold statement or a glamorous silhouette, but about sophistication and elegance – just like playing a real movie star. (Screen legends like Faye Dunaway even made a cameo at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.)
