Cannes Film Market Opens With Record 16,000 Participants as Japan Becomes Country of Honour

The 2026 Marché du Film is opening with a record 16,000 registered market participants from more than 140 countries, marking the largest registered attendance the market has reported. That figure sits within a broader Cannes gathering of approximately 40,000 industry professionals expected during the festival period. The registered participant count covers industry professionals arriving from across more than 140 nations. Alongside the attendance milestone, organizers are spotlighting Japan as the 2026 Country of Honour, with programming built around Japanese cinema, animation, and international co-production opportunities. The dual themes of record turnout and Japanese creative representation define the opening phase of this year’s market.

The Details

This year’s market is slated to include about 1,700 buyers, 600 exhibiting companies, 1,500 screenings, and 250 industry events. Of those industry events, roughly 100 are conference sessions. The numbers reflect the scale that organizers have assembled for this year’s edition. The 1,500 screenings and 250 events are scheduled across the market’s eight-day run from May 12 to May 20. Taken together, the figures represent the largest registered participation level that organizers have reported for the Marché du Film.

Japan’s presence at the market is substantially larger than in prior editions. Variety reported that Japanese registrations are up nearly 50% year over year, making Japan the fifth most represented country at the market. The nearly 50% increase marks a sharp acceleration in the country’s market presence compared with the prior year. That surge in attendance coincides directly with Japan’s formal role as the 2026 Country of Honour. The designation, announced by the Marché du Film, carries a dedicated showcase for Japanese film and animation.

Screen Daily reported that Japan will use its Country of Honour spotlight to host seminars, screenings, producer meetings, animation-focused discussions, and opening-night participation at Cannes 2026. The planned events are intended to highlight Japanese cinema and foster international partnerships. The programming extends across the market’s full schedule and is designed to promote Japanese content to the global industry.

Junichi Sakomoto, describing how Japan plans to use the Cannes market spotlight to drive more international co-productions, tied the programming to future business prospects for Japanese producers. “Global international co-production is going to be a key stream going into the future and this is a significant chance to promote more deals,” Sakomoto said in remarks reported by Screen Daily.

Guillaume Esmiol, in the official Marché du Film announcement naming Japan the 2026 Country of Honour, said the country’s creative influence remains a touchstone for global filmmakers. “We are thrilled to welcome Japan as our 2026 Country of Honour,” Esmiol said. “Japan holds a unique place in international cinema, and its creative legacy continues to inspire generations of filmmakers.”

Esmiol, explaining the role of the Cannes market as attendance reaches a record level in 2026, also addressed the market’s foundational purpose. “The Marché du Film is first and foremost a place of action, structured around three essential pillars: the global marketplace for film sales, a platform where projects are created and financed, and a hub for sharing knowledge and expertise where the industry collectively shapes its future,” he said in a statement to Variety.

Context

The 2026 Marché du Film runs from May 12 to May 20, during the 79th Festival de Cannes, which continues through May 23. The market’s eight-day window is nested within the longer festival schedule. Japan follows Brazil, Switzerland, Spain, and India as the fifth Country of Honour in the Marché du Film program. The designation places Japan alongside the four prior national industries that have previously received the honour: Brazil, Switzerland, Spain, and India. Screen Daily reported that Cannes organizers began discussing Japan’s designation roughly three years before the 2026 market, meaning conversations started around 2023. The multi-year lead time means the designation was under discussion well before the 2026 market opened.

What's Next

Through May 20, the market will stage approximately 1,500 screenings and 250 industry events, including roughly 100 conference sessions. Japan’s Country of Honour programming—encompassing seminars, screenings, producer meetings, and animation-focused discussions—will continue across the market’s eight-day run. The planned opening-night participation will also take place during the Cannes 2026 festival period. The broader 79th Festival de Cannes, which hosts the Marché du Film, is set to conclude on May 23.