Japan Named Country of Honour; Cannes Film Festival 2026 Official Social Event "CANNES GALA" to Announce Cultural Honours Today

With the official recognition of the Country of Honour, a two-night social event commences.

- May 16 | EVE BALL | Ball: Location CARLTON CANNES - May 17 | CANNES GALA | Preuve de Do (Proof of the Way) Honour Conferment Ceremony: Location PLAGE DES PALMES

This announcement officially publishes for domestic audiences the details revealed at a press conference held on April 14, Japan time, at the International House of Japan in Tokyo.

On the first night, May 16, French local time, the "EVE BALL" will be held at CARLTON CANNES.

The EVE BALL is an eve-of-the-event ball held for official invitees of the CANNES GALA. Emphasizing formality over competition, it is structured as a social gathering for invitees to enter the same cultural circuit.

On the second night, May 17, the main CANNES GALA event will be held at the prestigious PLAGE DES PALMES, an official venue of the Cannes Film Festival, where the "Preuve de Do (Proof of the Way)" Honour Conferment Ceremony will take place.

At the core of CANNES GALA is the resolve: HONEST AND NOBLE. These words serve as the standard defining the spirit of the ceremony itself. Welcoming artists, cultural figures, and entrepreneurs, it connects meaningful aspirations, from film, music, and fashion to urban editing, as a cultural sphere shaping the next generation of the content industry.

"Preuve de Do" is an honorary title awarded to an individual or organization contributing to the future of culture. "Do" originates from the Japanese word for "way," emphasizing the depth of aspiration, practical ability, and value to be passed on to future generations, rather than the scale of fame or length of career. It is the highest cultural conferment in the content industry, officially stipulated by CANNES GALA.

CANNES GALA also serves to directly connect the hitherto fragmented film and music industries. As its operational circuit, it features "AXLR8-G (Accelerate Grammy)." On the night of the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, an officially authorized The GRAMMY Awards After Party by the Recording Academy is held, connecting the cultural conferment and social spirit of CANNES GALA to the music side.

Chairman Taichi's Comment |

"Film has only carried those who continuously chose change into the next era. The aesthetics of silent films were overwritten by talkies, the restrictive beauty of film was liberated by digital, and screens were fragmented into palms, reversing aspect ratios. Now, generative AI threatens to commodify 131 years of production methods overnight, attempting to pull the red carpet from under the largest market. The evolution of culture does not stop. However, while rules must be updated for cultural evolution, 'manners' are what preserve culture. We international filmmakers will once again change the industry structure itself. Like the 'complete metamorphosis' of a butterfly. CANNES GALA is opened and will continue to be held for those who possess this resolve."

For participants, these two nights offer an opportunity to enter a higher circuit where cultural figures with will and resolve intersect. Outside the market where short-term exposure is competed for, there is a place where long-term trust is built. CANNES GALA implements that place at the Cannes Film Festival.

The official scent of CANNES GALA features the potpourri fragrance from "Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella," founded in Florence in 1221. Inheriting herbal medicine and craftsmanship, its fragrance will be passed down as a symbol of the memories of the ceremonial space.

CANNES GALA is an invitation-only, completely closed ceremony. However, information regarding invitees, ceremony progress, and program details will be gradually announced as needed, based on management policy. Roles, directors, producers, and operational authority related to CANNES GALA are limited to those listed in the official canon of "House of NOMA." Command will not be exercised by unlisted outsiders. The basis for official management and operation refers solely to the House of NOMA official canon.

The structure of the international HOUSE supporting these two nights will be announced in a subsequent report.

--- ■ CANNES GALA 2026｜”NOMA” MAIN CREDITS｜

CHAIRMAN | TAICHI

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | RYO NAKATSUJI

CANNES GALA DIRECTOR