A significant power outage hit southeastern France on Saturday, causing disruptions across the region and briefly affecting the prestigious Cannes Film Festival just as it was gearing up to announce its top prize.
According to electricity network operator RTE, around 160,000 households in the Alpes-Maritimes department were left without electricity after a high-voltage transmission line collapsed on Saturday morning. This incident followed an earlier fire at an electrical substation near Cannes during the night, which had already placed strain on the power grid.
Cannes Film Festival organizers confirmed that the outage impacted several early Saturday activities. However, the Palais des Festivals—the festival’s main venue—swiftly switched to an independent power source. In an official statement, organizers reassured the public that all events, including the much-anticipated Closing Ceremony, would continue as scheduled and under normal conditions. The cause of the outage remains under investigation, and restoration efforts are currently ongoing.
Some screenings at Cineum, one of the festival’s satellite venues, were temporarily halted due to the blackout. In the broader city area, power loss led to non-functioning traffic lights in parts of Cannes and nearby Antibes, resulting in traffic congestion and confusion. Many shops along the iconic Croisette stayed closed, while local food vendors could only accept cash transactions due to the outage. Train services in Cannes were also disrupted, adding to the city’s logistical challenges.
Authorities are continuing to restore electricity and have advised residents and visitors to exercise caution while traveling within the affected areas.
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