CANNES, France (AP) — The Palais des Festival is the center hub of the Cannes Film Festival but is far from the festival’s only stage.
Every day, while stars stream down the red carpet, countless others are living out their own Cannes Film Festival dreams, posing for photographers on the Croisette, the famous seaside boulevard, or striving for a glimpse of stars.
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Festivalgoers eat at an ice cream shop near the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman checks her phone as people wait for the start of a movie on the beach during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People sit on a beach along the Croisette ahead of the 79th Cannes international film festival Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Men dressed in tuxedos enjoy drinks outside a sandwich shop before a red carpet event during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A man holds a dog in a bar during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A woman poses for a friend in the Hotel Martinez during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People line the street to catch a glimpse of the actors walking on red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Festivalgoers wait in a park near the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for photographers in the Hotel Martinez during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A festivalgoer gets ready along the street before walking along the red carpet at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A police officer stands long the road near the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Festivalgoers get ready as they wait in line before the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
People wait outside before entering near the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for a photographer in the parking lot of Hotel Martinez as cars line up to take festivalgoers to the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Elena Lenina poses for a photographer after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People try to catch a glimpse of celebrities on the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Chen Foye poses for a photograph outside a hotel after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People shield their eyes from the sun while watching the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Men relax at sunset on the Boulevard de la Croisette during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Festivalgoers pose in front of a backdrop during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
People wait to try and get a view of the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for people on top of a sign of Festival de Cannes during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People walk past a woman posing for photographers after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A woman poses for a photographer in front of a poster showcasing the famous red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A festivalgoer poses for photographers as people sit by the beach along the Croisette during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Over the course of the 12-day French Riviera spectacular, Associated Press photographers have been turning their lenses on not just the nonstop parade of world premieres, but on the wide radius of Cannes' colorful surrounding activity, away from the red carpet.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Festivalgoers eat at an ice cream shop near the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman checks her phone as people wait for the start of a movie on the beach during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People sit on a beach along the Croisette ahead of the 79th Cannes international film festival Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Men dressed in tuxedos enjoy drinks outside a sandwich shop before a red carpet event during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A man holds a dog in a bar during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A woman poses for a friend in the Hotel Martinez during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People line the street to catch a glimpse of the actors walking on red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Festivalgoers wait in a park near the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for photographers in the Hotel Martinez during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A festivalgoer gets ready along the street before walking along the red carpet at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A police officer stands long the road near the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Festivalgoers get ready as they wait in line before the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
People wait outside before entering near the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for a photographer in the parking lot of Hotel Martinez as cars line up to take festivalgoers to the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Elena Lenina poses for a photographer after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People try to catch a glimpse of celebrities on the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Chen Foye poses for a photograph outside a hotel after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People shield their eyes from the sun while watching the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Men relax at sunset on the Boulevard de la Croisette during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Festivalgoers pose in front of a backdrop during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
People wait to try and get a view of the red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A woman poses for people on top of a sign of Festival de Cannes during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People walk past a woman posing for photographers after walking on the red carpet for the movie "Parallel Talles" during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A woman poses for a photographer in front of a poster showcasing the famous red carpet during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A festivalgoer poses for photographers as people sit by the beach along the Croisette during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
