At Cannes this year, the real competition may not be for the Palme d’Or, but for proximity to the red carpet.
Behind the flood of influencer photos and “India at Cannes” headlines lies a thriving market for paid access, rented glamour and questionable promises.
And as demand surges, so do the scams.
In reality, the official red carpet is active only around major premieres and screenings, typically in the evenings. Outside those hours, the carpet is simply there — without the spectacle or access.
“For 2026, access to high-profile premieres at the Palais des Festivals reportedly starts at around €5,750 (approximately ₹5.5 lakh) for balcony seating, while orchestra and premium corbeille access can go up to €7,250 (around ₹7 lakh). These packages often include red carpet entry for major screenings,” read a 2026 article in The Free Press Journal.
But this year, “ticket scalping” — particularly from India — spiralled out of control.
Pankhuri Harikrishnan, founder and director of Fetch India, shared an Instagram story calling out the scams circulating around the festival.
“I’ve been called by various individuals who had been promised carpet appearances, but after they have landed in Cannes… the organisers vanished,” she said.
According to Harikrishnan, several people flew to Cannes after booking flights and hotels on the promise of walking the famed red carpet, only to find themselves lost.
“But then, they’re stranded,” Harikrishnan tells The Hollywood Reporter India. She explains that while official red carpet appearances happen during evening premieres, many were falsely told they could walk the carpet at 11 AM.
She recalls, “Someone called me and asked, ‘Can you get me a ticket?’ It was very last minute, but then they said, ‘Would you be able to get us clothes too?’”
That, she says, was part of the package being sold.
The Cannes black market has long been an open secret.
A 2025 article by Screen Daily detailed the different packages available. “A red carpet-only experience will set attendees back $2,995 per person, while the Tier 1 Premiere package for the biggest films and cast goes for $10,795,” it reads.
“It includes hair and make-up at the hotel, a limousine from the hotel to the red carpet, and a set of photographs, with the option of a Getty photographer’s services for an additional fee depending on availability.”