From 12 to 23 May 2026, and for the 46th consecutive year, Air France is official partner of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. To mark the occasion, the airline is launching the third season of its private beach on the Croisette. A true haven of peace, it features a restaurant and a space celebrating Air France excellence through the years.
The Air France beach at the heart of the Croisette
Having quickly become an iconic venue at the Festival, the Air France beach is this year celebrating the timeless excellence of the airline’s services, bringing together the legendary heritage of the Concorde and the contemporary La Première experience – the highest expression of travel.
Concorde-themed lunches
Adjacent to the Hôtel Martinez beach, the Air France beach features a private restaurant seating around thirty guests, open to all festival-goers on reservation. This space is themed around the Great White Bird, the legendary supersonic aircraft whose 50th anniversary of its maiden commercial flight the airline is celebrating in 2026. An outdoor lounge, a bar and sun loungers overlooking the sea complete this unique venue, designed as a haven of peace in the heart of bustling Cannes.
Private dinners showcasing the La Première menu
Every evening, the venue is reserved exclusively for the airline’s guests for private dinners. Chef Mory Sacko will be creating the starter and main course served to the guests. To enhance the La Première travel experience, he will introduce them to his signature creations, specially designed for passengers in this prestigious cabin on flights between Abidjan and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The desserts are created by Claire Heitzler, named Pastry Chef of the Year 2013 by Gault & Millau, who also designs the sweet treats served in the La Première cabin on flights departing from Paris.
An exclusive La Première experience
At the heart of its beach in Cannes, Air France is this year introducing a new, exclusive experience, set on the sand and offering breathtaking sea views. In this exceptional setting, festival-goers can book a special experience and enjoy caviar and wine, just as they would in a La Première suite – a rare foretaste of this travel experience. The venue is infused with Air France’s signature home fragrance, called AF001 and created by Francis Kurkdjian, the renowned French master perfumer and artistic director of Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
This exclusive experience showcases Sturia Osciètre caviar, paired with Charles Heidsieck’s Blanc des Millénaires, as well as Gérard Bertrand’s Clos du Temple rosé, served with Sturia Caviar d’Aquitaine IGP. An equally refined non-alcoholic alternative is also available, French Bloom Rosé, complemented by a selection of Sturia Caviar d’Aquitaine.
Throughout the day, the Air France beach showcases French expertise and culinary artistry that the airline strives to highlight at every stage of the journey. The entire space is adorned with the iconic motifs of La Première: shades of grey contrast with pristine white, enhanced by touches of red, the airline’s signature colour. The winged seahorse, Air France’s historic emblem and trademark symbol of the La Première universe, also adorns this unique space.
The Air France beach, next to the Hôtel Martinez beach. Open from 10am to 6pm, reservation required, Lunch menu, including beverages, at 97 euros. Caviar and wine experience, 52 euros.
Air France celebrates 60 years of in-flight entertainment
As official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for 46 years, Air France has always cultivated strong ties with cinema, a source of dreams, just like air travel. Throughout its history, Air France has transported film crews, assisted with productions and of course continues to show films on board.
On 1 May 1966, Air France turned a new page in its history by launching in-flight entertainment on the Paris–New York route. On board its Boeing 707s, the airline transformed the cabin into a movie theatre for the first time. For two hours, passengers were treated to a veritable festival in the sky, combining film and music. The feature film shown was Louis Malle’s Viva Maria!, starring Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau, shown in both French and English. This event marked a major turning point: travel was no longer merely about transport; it became a cultural experience designed for pleasure and escapism.
Sixty years on, that pioneering spirit continues to shine through in an ever-expanding range of entertainment. In all its long-haul cabins, Air France promotes cinema all year round on 38,000 individual screens. The company offers 1,500 hours of in-flight entertainment including a wide selection of French films and movies that have won awards at previous editions of the Cannes Film Festival. Its carefully selected vast offer of films is enhanced by feature films broadcast in their original version. The entertainment offer also includes a selection of CANAL+ and Apple TV programmes, series, podcasts and content adapted for younger travellers. There is something for everyone to enjoy.
Special flights from Hollywood to the French Riviera
On 11 and 25 May 2026, Air France is operating two special flights providing a direct service between Los Angeles and Nice. These flights are in response to strong demand from customers on the American West Coast who want to enjoy the French Riviera and the festival. These flights are operated by Boeing 777-300ER equipped with the airline's latest cabins.