Halle Berry Forced to Change Cannes Red Carpet Look Due to New Dress Code Rules

The Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry revealed she had to abandon her original designer gown due to the Cannes Film Festival’s updated restrictions on trains and nudity.

CANNES, France — Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry revealed on Tuesday that she had to make a last-minute wardrobe change after running afoul of the Cannes Film Festival’s updated dress code.

Speaking to journalists, Berry said she was originally set to wear a dramatic gown by designer Gupta for the red carpet — but the outfit’s sweeping train fell short of the festival’s new regulations.

“I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big,” said Berry, who is serving as a jury member this year. “I had to make a pivot.”

Cannes organizers recently implemented stricter red carpet guidelines that prohibit nudity and large, voluminous outfits that could obstruct guest movement or theatre seating. The policy was introduced after a recent trend of increasingly revealing or oversized attire worn by celebrity guests.

Berry, who won an Academy Award for her role in Monster’s Ball (2001), added, “The nudity part I do think is probably also a good rule.”

The conversation around red carpet attire has intensified in recent months following headline-making moments like Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori’s sheer ensemble at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

Festival organizers have also relaxed some rules, now permitting elegant flat shoes on the red carpet — a change that drew praise from this year’s jury president Juliette Binoche. “On the heel side, I think it’s a very good idea, by experience,” the French actress remarked.

With the new dress code in place, stars are now rethinking how to make a statement without stepping over the line — or the velvet rope.