Queer Palm 2026 Marks a Landmark Year for LGBTQ+ Cinema at Cannes

 

The 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be one of its most LGBTQ+ inclusive in history, with the Queer Palm announcing a record-breaking 21 feature films in competition for its 16th edition.

 

Created to honor films with strong LGBTQ+ themes or feminist perspectives across Cannes’ official and parallel selections, the Queer Palm has become one of the festival’s most significant cultural markers for queer cinema. This year’s expanded lineup reflects a broader shift in international filmmaking, where queer stories are no longer treated as niche, but increasingly recognized as central to contemporary cinema.

 

Franck Finance-Madureira, founder of the Queer Palm, noted how dramatic the evolution has been since the prize began. In its first year, only five or six films qualified for consideration. Now, with 21 feature films selected, he sees it as proof that queer narratives have become far more visible and accepted in mainstream film culture. 

 

According to him, cinema is undergoing a real normalization of LGBTQ+ storytelling.

 

At the conclusion of the 12-day festival, the Queer Palm jury will award both a feature film and a short film. This year’s jury is co-chaired by actress Anna Mouglalis and director Thomas Jolly, who is also set to lead the upcoming Drag Race France tour later this year. They are joined by André Fischer, creator and director of the MixBrasil Festival; musician and actress Jehnny Beth; and multidisciplinary artist Raya Martigny, recently recognized at the Têtu Awards.

 

Among the films competing for the 2026 Queer Palm are major works from internationally acclaimed LGBTQ+ filmmakers including Pedro Almodóvar, Lukas Dhont, and Ira Sachs. Their entries include Autofiction, Coward, and The Man I Love, respectively.

 

Other films in contention include A Few Days in Nagi by Kōji Fukada, Garance by Jeanne Herry, The Black Ball by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, Club Kid by Jordan Firstman, and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma by Jane Schoenbrun.

 

In total, seven of the 22 films in Cannes’ Official Competition feature LGBTQI+ characters, themes, or perspectives—a remarkable figure for one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. 

 

Many of these films are also directed by openly LGBTQ+ creators, further highlighting how representation is expanding both on screen and behind the camera.

 

For queer cinema, 2026 is not just another festival year at Cannes—it is a statement. The record-breaking Queer Palm selection signals that LGBTQ+ storytelling is no longer fighting for a seat at the table. It is now helping define the conversation.

See you in Cannes from May 12 to 23, 2026.

Why the French Riviera Remains One of the Best Places to Buy Luxury Property in 2026

 

If you are considering investing in world-class real estate, the French Riviera should be at the top of your list.

In the first 2026 Global Prime Market Index by JamesEdition, the French Riviera ranked as the world’s third ultra-prime property hub—an extraordinary position that confirms what buyers and investors have known for decades: this is not just a beautiful place to live, it is one of the most resilient and desirable luxury markets on the planet.

What makes the Riviera so powerful is not simply prestige—it is consistency. While flashy new markets rise and fall, the French Riviera continues to hold its ground, attracting serious international buyers who understand the value of scarcity, location, and long-term stability.

Strong Demand, Limited Supply, Lasting Value

The numbers tell the story.

With a Demand Scale score of 91, the Riviera remains one of the most sought-after luxury property destinations in the world. Buyers from across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and beyond continue to compete for exceptional homes in places like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cap d’Antibes, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Demand Momentum may be steady rather than explosive, but that is exactly what sophisticated investors want. This is a mature market built on stability, not speculation.

Supply remains carefully controlled. Prime waterfront villas, historic estates, and exceptional sea-view properties are not endlessly available—and that scarcity protects value. There is enough inventory to create opportunity, but never enough to erase exclusivity.

That is where true long-term strength lives.

Competing With the World—and Still Winning

The French Riviera is no longer simply competing with traditional European luxury destinations. Today, buyers compare it directly with global hotspots like Dubai, Miami, and Ibiza.

And yet the Riviera continues to stand apart.

Why? Because no other destination offers the same blend of Mediterranean beauty, international accessibility, cultural prestige, architectural history, and investment security. It is not just a purchase—it is a lifestyle asset with global recognition.

Whether you are searching for a private hillside villa, a waterfront estate, or a high-end apartment overlooking the sea, the Riviera offers something increasingly rare: a luxury market where emotion and financial logic align.

Now Is the Time to Start Your Search

The best properties in the French Riviera are rarely available for long.

Buyers who wait for the “perfect moment” often discover that the finest homes have already been secured by those who moved earlier. In ultra-prime real estate, hesitation can be expensive.

If you have been thinking about owning in the South of France, now is the time to start looking.

Explore the villages. Walk the coastlines. Visit the hidden estates above the sea. Look beyond the postcard image and see what global investors already understand: the French Riviera is not just a destination—it is one of the world’s most secure and rewarding places to own property.

For lifestyle, legacy, and long-term value, few places compare.

And that is exactly why your property search should begin here.

Contact Experience The French Riviera

Rose Festival Returns to Villa Ephrussi

 

The stunning Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint Jean Cap Ferrat will celebrate the 15th edition of its much-loved Rose and Plant Festival on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May, bringing together flowers, music, workshops, performances and guided garden tours across its spectacular seven-hectare estate.

 

At the heart of the event is the rose, a flower deeply connected to Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, who created the villa between 1907 and 1912 and made roses a defining feature of the property. Today, nine of the estate’s gardens hold the prestigious “Jardin Remarquable” label from France’s Ministry of Culture.

“The rose holds a special place here — it is both the queen of flowers and a symbol of love,” said Muriel Mayette-Holtz, director of the villa, describing the estate as one of the most beautiful garden settings in the world.

Visitors can explore a plant and flower market in the French garden featuring rose growers, horticulturalists and specialist nurseries. There will also be creative workshops for all ages, from flowerpot decorating and insect discovery for children to basket weaving, floral arranging and scent-based experiences for adults.

Live entertainment will take place throughout the gardens, including performances by the accordion and vocal duo Deux Elles, a fountain-side dance performance by Julia Zolynski, and literary readings in the Florentine garden by actors Elise Clary, Laurent Prévost and Hervé Van Der Meulen.

Special themed tours will also run throughout the weekend, focusing on the Rothschild family, the villa’s art collection and the gardens themselves, led by the estate’s gardening and collections teams.

Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and €12 for students and children aged seven to 18, including full access to the villa and its renowned art collection.

European Parliament Votes to Ban Conversion Therapy Across the EU

 

Brussels, 2026 — In a landmark move for LGBTQ+ rights, the European Parliament has voted in favor of banning so-called “conversion therapy” practices across the European Union, marking a decisive step toward harmonizing protections for LGBTQ+ people across member states.

The vote follows mounting pressure from civil society and a successful European Citizens’ Initiative that gathered more than one million signatures calling for an EU-wide prohibition of conversion practices.

A decisive political signal

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) overwhelmingly backed the measure, urging the European Commission to introduce binding legislation that would criminalize conversion practices throughout the bloc. The vote reflects growing consensus within EU institutions that such practices constitute serious violations of human rights.

Conversion therapy—widely discredited by medical and psychological associations—refers to interventions that attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices have been described by international bodies, including the United Nations, as harmful and potentially amounting to torture.

From debate to action

The parliamentary vote builds on months of debate and public hearings triggered by the citizens’ initiative, which called for conversion practices to be classified as “euro-crimes” and for stronger protections for victims.

Although several EU countries—including France, Germany, and Spain—have already enacted national bans, the legal landscape remains fragmented, with some member states lacking clear prohibitions.The Parliament’s vote aims to close these gaps by establishing a unified legal framework.

Wider European momentum

The decision also aligns with broader developments across Europe. Earlier in 2026, the Council of Europe adopted a resolution urging all member states to outlaw conversion practices, signaling a continent-wide shift toward stronger protections.

Advocacy groups have welcomed the Parliament’s vote as a turning point. They argue that a binding EU ban would not only prevent abuse but also ensure access to support services and justice for survivors.

What happens next?

While the Parliament’s vote is a major milestone, the process is not yet complete. The European Commission must now draft concrete legislative proposals, which will require approval by EU member states before becoming law.

If enacted, the ban would represent one of the most comprehensive international efforts to eliminate conversion therapy, reinforcing the EU’s stated commitment to equality, dignity, and human rights for all citizens.

This vote sends a clear message: across Europe, there is “nothing to cure”—and no place for practices that attempt to deny people their identity.