Cannes à l’affiche 2026

Cannes has always paid close attention to the way it presents itself.

Long before social media, promotional videos or digital campaigns, the city was already telling its story through posters. They announced events, promoted cultural programmes and helped introduce Cannes to people who had never visited before.

From 6 November 2026, the exhibition Cannes à l’affiche: informer la population, promouvoir la ville looks back at this visual history at the Espace Calmette, home to the city’s contemporary archives. The exhibition will run until 11 June 2027.

 

A different way to explore the history of Cannes

At first glance, a poster may seem like a simple piece of advertising. Over time, however, it becomes a record of the period in which it was created.

Colours, typography, illustration and even the way Cannes itself is represented can reveal a great deal about changing tastes and ideas.

The exhibition draws on documents preserved in the city’s collections and covers the 19th and 20th centuries. Together, they show how Cannes presented itself over the decades and how its visual identity gradually took shape.

 

How Cannes learned to promote its image

Today, the image of Cannes is recognised around the world.

That reputation, however, was built over many years.

Posters were once one of the main ways to promote the destination, as well as the cultural, sporting and tourism events taking place across the city. Some were designed primarily to inform local residents. Others were intended to catch the attention of travellers much further away.

Seen today, they are much more than old advertisements. They show how Cannes learned to communicate its identity and create an image that could reach well beyond the French Riviera.

 

When posters became part of visual culture

The late 19th century was an important period for illustrated posters.

New printing techniques made it possible to produce more ambitious designs, with stronger colours, detailed illustrations and a much greater emphasis on visual style.

Illustrators, graphic artists and printers gradually turned posters into creative works in their own right.

Looking back at them today also gives a sense of the atmosphere of each period. A tourism poster does not simply advertise a destination. It also reflects what people at the time considered elegant, modern or desirable.

That historical perspective is one of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition.

 

Seeing how the image of Cannes changed over time

The exhibition also makes it possible to compare the different ways Cannes has been represented.

Over the years, the city has been associated with tourism, leisure, sport, culture and, increasingly, major international events.

Graphic styles changed, messages evolved and the way designers tried to capture attention shifted from one generation to the next.

For visitors who mainly know Cannes through the Film Festival or the modern Croisette, the posters offer a chance to step back in time and see how the city was presented long before its current image became familiar.

 

A free exhibition at the Cannes Municipal Archives

Cannes à l’affiche is being presented at Espace Calmette, where the city’s contemporary archives are housed.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 1.30 pm to 5 pm, with free admission. The venue is closed on public holidays.

Several additional events are also planned alongside the exhibition. A talk on the use of posters to promote tourism in Cannes will take place on 12 November, while guided visits will offer a closer look at the documents on display.

 

Cannes à l’affiche: practical information

Dates: 6 November 2026 to 11 June 2027

Venue: Espace Calmette, Cannes Contemporary Archives

Address: 18 rue Docteur Calmette, Cannes

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1.30 pm to 5 pm

Admission: Free

Theme: The changing image of Cannes through posters from the 19th and 20th centuries

 

With Cannes à l’affiche, the Municipal Archives offer a different way to discover the city.

Instead of telling the story of Cannes only through its buildings or major events, the exhibition focuses on the images that helped shape its reputation. It is a simple but revealing way to see how a destination gradually develops a visual identity of its own.

Credit : 

@Robaudy-Cannes

@Lucien-Serre-et-Cie