The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, commencing May 13 with the opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in the south of France. Alongside screenings of cinematic projects from around the globe, the festival will draw attention to the varied fashions on display.
It feels like there’s room for a bit of everything on the Croisette, from tuxedos and gowns on the red carpet to beachwear by the ocean and minidresses at the after parties. Footwear can run the gamut from platform sandals to loafers to sneakers. While the latest dress code for the gala screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière calls for “elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel — no sneakers,” some have gone ahead and laced up the sporty footwear style anyway; others have worn sneakers for photo calls or other, more casual Cannes-related events.
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Below, FN rounds up some sneaker highlights from past iterations of the Cannes Film Festival.
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Last year at the premiere of his film “Highest 2 Lowest,” Spike Lee wore an all-black Jordan Spizike sneaker, a Nike style tributing the director himself, with an orange and blue pinstriped suit by Cointel honoring his beloved New York Knicks.
Also at the “Highest 2 Lowest” premiere in 2025, Denzel Washington, the star of the film, wore a classic navy suit which he complemented with crisp white sneakers by Cole Haan. He looked to be wearing the GrandPrø Topspin Golf style from the brand.
Robert Pattinson kept his footwear relaxed at a photo call for “Die My Love” in 2025 wearing classic navy Chuck Taylors with creased taupe trousers and a layered look including a butter yellow top, white button down and chocolate suede jacket. He wore a low-top version of the shoe featuring its signature rubber sole, canvas upper and stitching.
Noted sneaker fan Kristen Stewart didn’t want to commit to wearing heels longer than she had to when it came time for a photo call for “The Chronology of Water” at Cannes in 2025. She was seen at a hotel wearing bright white sneakers to complement her light pink Chanel look, and at the photo call itself showcased a neutral open-toe heeled sandal.
Nike partner Travis Scott sparked conversation when he debuted an unreleased sneaker style on the red carpet for the HBO show “The Idol” back in 2023, with some speculating it was his own silhouette with Nike. The brown-and-black suede sneaker turned out to be his signature Jordan Brand sneaker.
Josh O’Connor attended a photo call for “The Mastermind” in 2025 wearing cream-colored Prada aged-effect leather sneakers featuring decorative stitching across the upper. The neutral-hued, low-top shoes accompanied navy pants, a green patterned shirt and a gray double-breasted coat.
Jackson Yee attended a photo call for “Resurrection” at the 2025 festival wearing a style from Golden Goose, the luxury brand known for sneakers with an intentionally aeshetic. Yee showcased a black low-top silhouette featuring the brand’s signature star emblem and colorful floral embroidery.