Palais des Festivals

The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, to give the building its full name, is one of the most important landmarks in Cannes. While others have more historic importance and, depending on your viewpoint, others are more beautiful to look at, no other buildings match the Palais des Festivals for the sheer amount of extremely popular events taking place there each year.

Located at one end of the Promenade de la Croisette, right on the water's edge, the current incarnation of the building was opened in 1982, with an extension added in 1999 to cope with the ever-growing demand for the events and festivals it plays host to. While its sharp edges and huge glass facades might have split opinion, the building has quickly become one of the most recognisable features anywhere in the city, and indeed anywhere along the French Riviera.

Home to the Cannes Film Festival and Much More

The original Palais des Festivals was built in 1949 to provide a permanent home for the Cannes Film Festival, which has cemented its place as the world's most important and glamorous festival of the silver screen. The Cannes Lion, the world's biggest advertising festival, has also been held in the building since making the city its permanent home in 1984. The International Games Festival, Fireworks Festival and many more are also held at the Palais des Festivals annually.

In addition to festivals and exhibitions, it also has a busy calendar of concerts, operas and theatre performances throughout the year. To find out more about the array of events taking place at the Palais des Festivals in the coming months, take a look at their latest agenda.