Power Outage Hits Cannes During Film Festival Closing

Power Outage Strikes Cannes Just Before Film Festival Finale

A sudden and widespread power outage hit the city of Cannes and nearby areas in the Alpes-Maritimes region on May 24, 2025, affecting over 160,000 homes. The blackout began around 10:15 a.m. local time and caused serious disruptions just hours before the Cannes Film Festival’s closing ceremony.

Shops, restaurants, and even the city’s main train station lost electricity. Train schedules had to be updated manually, and internet services were down across many areas. Card machines stopped working, pushing many stores and cafes to accept cash only.

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A major power outage has plunged Cannes and nearby Antibes into darkness, disrupting film screenings.
The closing ceremony now hangs in the balance—no word yet on the cause or restoration time.#Cannes2025… pic.twitter.com/PiIzbSKxwo
— ViralNewsHQ™ (@viralposts2323) May 24, 2025

Movie screenings at venues outside the main festival site—like the Cineum theatre—were also affected, with several events paused until electricity returns.

Festival Ceremony to Continue Despite City Blackout

While the power cut created problems across Cannes, festival organizers quickly assured the public that the show will go on. The prestigious Palme d’Or closing ceremony, scheduled for later in the day, will continue as planned.

That’s because the Palais des Festivals, the main venue for the film festival, switched to an independent power supply. The Grand Théâtre Lumière—where the ceremony will take place—remains fully powered, with press conferences and screenings inside the venue continuing without issues.

“Thanks to independent backup power, all screenings and the Palme d’Or ceremony will proceed under normal conditions,” festival officials confirmed.

Confusion Outside, Calm Inside

While the Palais remains a hub of calm activity, the rest of the city is struggling. Transportation delays are a concern, especially for guests and celebrities trying to reach the festival venue. Some are worried that the outage may prevent stars and press from arriving on time for the red carpet.