The 2026 Cannes Film Festival has barely begun—and Asia has already stolen the conversation. The 79th Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and for twelve days the Croisette will do what it does best: draw the world’s most compelling creative talents to one sun-drenched stretch of the French Riviera.
The strength of Asia’s presence on the carpet this year is no coincidence, for it mirrors what is happening inside the Palais. This year feels particularly significant for Asian cinema as its selection turns its spotlight firmly on international and arthouse cinema, with Japanese and South Korean filmmakers arriving with some of the most anticipated titles of the festival. Ryusuke Hamaguchi returns with All of a Sudden, his first French-language feature since Drive My Car swept the awards circuit; Hirokazu Kore-eda brings Sheep in a Box, a near-future drama exploring grief and artificial life; and Na Hong-jin makes his competition debut with Hope, his first feature in a decade. The jury itself reflects that same global ambition: the nine-person panel is chaired by Korean director Park Chan-wook, one of cinema’s most celebrated and uncompromising voices, whose presence in the official selection signals a broader shift in the festival’s creative axis. Accompanied by Chinese-American filmmaker Chloé Zhao, this is a historic milestone that speaks to just how far Asian cinema’s standing at Cannes has come.
On the carpet, the Asian contingent arrived with equal conviction. From Gong Li’s imperious Balenciaga to Alia Bhatt’s custom Tamara Ralph Co, which proceeded to go viral before she had even reached the top of the stairs, the opening night delivered some of the most considered Asian dressing the Croisette has seen in years. Chloé Zhao let a Gabriela Hearst gown do the quiet talking, while a cohort of Chinese stars—Lay Zhang, Zhang Tianqi, Zhou Ye and Xie Keyin among them—brought range, theatricality and more than a little spectacle to the Palais des Festivals steps.
Scroll on and cast your attention onto every Asian star who made their mark on the 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet—with more to come as the festival unfolds.
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Jung Hoyeon in custom Louis Vuitton with Taylor Russell
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BamBam in Louis Vuitton
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Simone Ashley in vintage Alexander McQueen
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Yoona Lim in KYHA Bridal and Qeelin Fine Jewellery
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Nychaa in custom Bent Kahina and Cartier
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Tian Xuning in custom Peet Dullaert
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Haruka Ayase in custom Balenciaga
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Han So Hee in Dior and Boucheron
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Huma Qureshi in Eman Alajlan and Ghafari
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Ji Chang-wook and Jun Ji-hyun
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Araya Hargate in Elie Saab
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Rebecca Patricia Armstrong in Sophie Couture
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Alice Abdel Aziz in Elio Abou Fayssal
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Alia Bhatt in custom Tamara Ralph Couture
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Zhou Ye in Phan Huy
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Win Metawin in Tiffany & Co.
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He Yan Chao and He Chang Xi
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Gong Li in Balenciaga
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Lay Zhang
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Chloé Zhao
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Chang Sisi
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Mike Angelo
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Xie Keyin
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Zhang Tianqi
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Zhao Tao in Prada
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