Major Power Outage Hits Cannes During Film Festival
A large-scale power outage disrupted southeastern France, including the famed city of Cannes, on May 24, 2025, just as the 78th Cannes Film Festival was concluding. Approximately 160,000 homes and several public services were impacted, prompting immediate emergency responses to prevent chaos during one of the world’s most prominent cultural events.
Cannes Power Outage Disrupts Final Festival Day
The outage, which began early Saturday morning, impacted electricity supply to a wide area spanning Cannes and surrounding towns. Festival venues, including the iconic Palais des Festivals, experienced sudden blackouts. However, organizers quickly activated backup power systems, allowing critical screenings and the festival’s closing ceremony to continue with minimal delays.
Emergency services and traffic management authorities reported that traffic lights, public transport, and street lighting were temporarily down. While power was gradually restored throughout the day, public concern intensified due to the timing and scale of the failure.
Sabotage Suspected in Electrical Grid Failure
Authorities confirmed that the outage was triggered by two key events: a fire at an electrical substation and the collapse of a high-voltage transmission line. What initially appeared to be a technical fault has now raised serious security concerns.
According to Laurent Hottiaux, state representative for the Alpes-Maritimes region, “major damage to network installations” was discovered, including deliberate sabotage. Investigators suspect arson as a contributing factor and have launched a full-scale inquiry to uncover the individuals or groups responsible.
Film Festival Responds with Contingency Measures
Despite the outage, the Cannes Film Festival concluded smoothly thanks to rapid action by organizers. Independent power sources ensured that screenings resumed without major hiccups, and the awards ceremony proceeded on time. Attendees commended the swift crisis response and resilience shown by the event team.
Security has since been heightened across the region, particularly around public infrastructure and cultural venues, as the investigation continues. The incident has renewed calls for strengthening energy infrastructure security during major international gatherings.
