Cannes gears up to welcome Alia Bhatt; actress to attend film festival with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - PICS

The Cannes Film Festival 2026 is set to witness a strong Indian presence this year, with Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and other Indian stars expected to attend the festival in France.Alia, was spotted in the early hours of Monday morning at the Mumbai airport as she departed for Cannes. The actor, who is attending the festival as the face of an international beauty brand, kept her travel look chic in a black coat layered over a white tank top, paired with denims and boots.Alia Bhatt leaves for CannesAdding to the excitement, videos circulating online from Cannes showed massive banners featuring Alia being mounted on buildings ahead of the festival. The actress will reportedly join an international lineup of celebrities, including Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda and Viola Davis, among other stars.Speaking about her return to Cannes, Alia described the experience as “incredibly special.” In a statement, the actor said, “Last year was such an unforgettable experience, and I am truly excited to be back for what feels like an even bigger celebration this year. There is a beautiful energy here, one of sisterhood and the celebration of female voices, and it is a privilege to be part of this journey with a brand that so strongly champions women's worth and empowerment.”Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will once again attend the festival as a global ambassador for the beauty brand, continuing her long-standing association with Cannes.The festival, scheduled to take place from May 12 to May 23 in France, is expected to showcase a diverse representation from India across cinema industries and creative sectors. Filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Tara Sutaria, Mouni Roy and Pooja Batra are also expected to be part of the event.Punjabi cinema will also mark their presence with Ammy Virk attending Cannes for the first time. Meanwhile, acclaimed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker will represent India as part of the country’s official delegation in his capacity as director of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).Regional cinema from across the country is also expected to make its presence felt at Cannes this year. Marathi cinema will be represented by veteran actors Ashok Saraf and Nivedita Saraf, along with actress Prajakta Mali and producer Kedar Joshi. Gujarati cinema, meanwhile, will have representation through actor-producer Mansi Parekh and singer-producer Parthiv Gohil.