As the 2026 edition of the festival began winding down, the annual event once again transformed the legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc into the festival’s most extravagant late-night playground.
For many Cannes regulars, the gala marks the unofficial finale of the festival. Guests gathered on the famous steps of the Riviera hotspot, cocktails in hand, overlooking the Mediterranean as the sun disappeared into the coast.
It remains one of Cannes’ most iconic traditions, even if this year’s guest list felt slightly lighter on major Hollywood power players than usual. Still, there was no shortage of recognizable faces.
Rami Malek attended alongside director Ira Sachs following the premiere of their film The Man I Love the night before. Eva Longoria worked the crowd like a Cannes veteran, chatting with guests and posing for selfies throughout the evening, while Heidi Klum arrived with her son in tow.
One of the more unexpected scene-stealers of the night was Ciara Miller, whose appearance instantly fueled speculation about her future projects. With reports swirling around her upcoming involvement in Dancing with the Stars later this year, she carefully avoided revealing too much about her summer plans.
Fashion, naturally, bordered on theatrical. Model Coco Rocha arrived wearing an elaborate headpiece that quite literally featured a bird perched above her hairstyle, instantly becoming one of the gala’s most talked-about looks.
Meanwhile, Lisa Rinna leaned fully into surreal glamour, channeling what could only be described as a futuristic Hitchcock blonde with an alien twist. Entertainment was equally over-the-top.
Lizzo kicked off the night with a high-energy performance that had guests on their feet almost immediately. Robbie Williams kept the momentum going midway through the evening before rising pop star Zara Larsson closed out the event.
Hosting duties fell to Geena Davis, though some moments in the room suggested the audience wasn’t always fully in sync with her comedic tone. But the amFAR Gala has never really been about restraint.
Between dinner courses came a marathon live auction, followed by an unexpectedly extravagant fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld. The evening felt like every traditional charity gala element had been exaggerated to maximum intensity and tossed together into one glamorous, chaotic spectacle.
By the end of the night, guests drifted toward the Eden Roc pool deck, where Honey Dijon took over the soundtrack with a house music set that carried well past midnight.
With the sea breeze rolling in from the Riviera and partygoers spilling across the terrace, Cannes closed another unforgettable chapter in exactly the way it knows best: loud, luxurious, and just a little absurd.