The glittering streets of Cannes were thrown into sudden darkness on Saturday as a massive power outage swept across parts of the southern French region of Alpes-Maritimes — just as the world-famous Cannes Film Festival was preparing for its grand closing ceremony.
French authorities have launched an investigation into what they believe may be a deliberate arson attack behind the blackout, which affected a wide stretch of the region, including Cannes and its surrounding towns. The outage came at a critical time, disrupting local businesses and residents as international stars descended upon the city for one of cinema’s biggest nights.
“We are currently exploring the possibility of this being a criminal act — specifically arson,” a spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie said. As of now, no arrests have been made, but officials are treating the case with urgency.
The blackout caused significant disruption, especially to small businesses. In a striking example, a local hairdresser was spotted continuing her client’s haircut outside on the pavement, making use of natural daylight due to the lack of electricity inside her salon. Such images quickly spread online, highlighting the extent of the sudden power failure.
The regional authorities confirmed that the western part of Alpes-Maritimes was most affected. RTE France, the country’s power grid operator, was deployed immediately to identify the cause and restore supply. Efforts were still underway on Saturday afternoon to return electricity to normal across all affected areas.
Despite the power challenges, the Cannes Film Festival remained undeterred. Organizers quickly activated backup power systems at the Palais des Festivals — the central hub of the event — ensuring that the highly anticipated closing ceremony could go ahead as planned.
“All scheduled events and screenings, including tonight’s Closing Ceremony, will proceed under normal conditions thanks to the venue’s independent power supply,” the festival stated.
This year marks the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which annually attracts filmmakers, celebrities, and media from around the world. The unexpected blackout added a dramatic, real-world twist to a city already brimming with cinematic drama.
While the event itself was spared any major disruption, the possibility of arson raises concerns about public safety during high-profile international gatherings. Local police and energy authorities continue their investigation, with more updates expected in the coming days.
The Cannes blackout serves as a reminder of how fragile even the most meticulously planned events can be when unforeseen circumstances strike — especially in a city that relies heavily on tourism, hospitality, and global attention.
