Legendary EGOT recipient Barbra Streisand will no longer attend the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival in person to accept her prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or due to an unexpected medical setback.
The 84-year-old entertainment icon released an official statement on Sunday, May 17, 2026, revealing that a lingering physical injury has forced her to cancel her travel plans to the French Riviera on short notice on the strict advice of her medical team.
Doctors Order Rest Amid Injury Recovery
The highly anticipated appearance was set to mark Streisand’s first time attending the legendary French film festival. In her shared statement, the multi-hyphenate director, actress, and singer expressed deep sadness over missing out on the international celebration.
“On the advice of my doctors, as I continue recovering from a knee injury, I am sadly unable to attend the Festival de Cannes this year,” Streisand announced. “But I am deeply honored to receive the honorary Palme d’Or and had so been looking forward to celebrating the remarkable films of the 79th edition.”
Streisand also shared her long-standing affection for the region and her professional peers, adding: “I was also very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues whom I so admire — and, of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved.”
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Praise for Global Filmmakers and Arthouse Talent
Despite the disappointment of skipping the physical trip, the two-time Academy Award winner made sure to focus on the global creative community, extending her warmest congratulations to artists presenting work at the festival. She praised their “extraordinary talent and creative vision” and offered her heartfelt thanks to the organizers and advocates who “continue to support and champion the art of cinema.”
Following Streisand’s statement, festival president Iris Knobloch and director Thierry Frémaux issued a joint press release wishing the icon a prompt, smooth recovery. The festival team confirmed that the planned tribute to celebrate her monumental impact on pop culture and 20th-century cinema will still proceed as scheduled during the event’s grand finale, despite her physical absence.
Streisand is the third major cinematic figure slated to receive an Honorary Palme d’Or during the 2026 circuit, joining fellow legendary honorees Peter Jackson and John Travolta. The high-profile Cannes closing ceremony—where the final winners of the competition, including the primary Palme d’Or for Best Film, will be officially unveiled—is scheduled to air live at 8:15 p.m. CET on Saturday, May 23, 2026.