Thelma & Louise take centre stage on Cannes 2026 official poster

The Cannes Film Festival has revealed its official poster for 2026, spotlighting Thelma & Louise as the defining image for its 79^th edition.

Marking 35 years since Ridley Scott’s film premiered at the festival, the poster features a black-and-white still of Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in their iconic roles. The image captures the pair in the open-top Ford Thunderbird, a visual that has come to symbolise freedom, rebellion and enduring friendship.

First released in 1991, Thelma & Louise reworked the traditionally male-dominated road movie into a story centred on two women forging their own path. Its themes of independence and resistance resonated at the time and continue to hold relevance today, which the festival’s selection appears to underline.

The film sparked debate on its release but went on to become a defining work of its era, widely regarded as a landmark in the representation of women in cinema. Davis and Sarandon’s performances helped cement the characters as cultural icons, while the film itself has since achieved cult status.

By choosing this image, Cannes pays tribute not only to a pivotal moment in its own history but also to a film that continues to shape conversations around identity, agency and storytelling.