Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a grand entrance at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, putting an end to weeks of fan speculation about her attendance. Arriving just before the festival's closing ceremonies, the global star captured the spotlight alongside her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, who has become her constant travel companion.
For her first red carpet appearance this year, Aishwarya chose a sparkling blue mermaid gown. Videos quickly went viral online, showing the actress posing elegantly on the iconic Cannes steps and sharing a warm greeting with her long-time friend and fellow L'Oréal Paris ambassador, Eva Longoria.
Aishwarya attended the festival for the premiere of the film The Birthday Party on Friday (May 22), having flown out of Mumbai with her daughter the previous night.
Addressing earlier doubts about her appearance, L’Oréal Paris stated, "Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses."
That track record spans over two decades. Aishwarya made her historic Cannes debut in 2002 for the premiere of Devdas, walking the red carpet alongside director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-star Shah Rukh Khan. The following year, she became the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes jury—a distinction later shared by Vidya Balan and Deepika Padukone. While family members like Abhishek Bachchan have joined her in the past, Aaradhya remains her steady companion for her annual French Riviera appearances.
