The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled Japan as the country of honor for its 2026 edition next May.
The general director of the Marché du Film, Guillaume Esmiol, officially announced this choice on Tuesday at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), alongside Junichi Sakomoto, president of the executive committee of Japan, country of honor 2026.
News of this focus was announced during Tokyo’s opening night, with the promise of more details during the festival.
As Country of Honor, Japan will open the 2026 edition by co-organizing the opening night of the Marché du Film and will then occupy a special place in the Marché du Film programming, with its panels, networking events and project showcases highlighting Japanese animation and genre cinema.
Other key initiatives include a Japanese film industry summit to foster collaboration and innovation, as well as a special screening day dedicated to Japanese cinema.
Through its participation, Japan aims to build strong professional networks with the international film community and promote its film and content industries for future success in global markets.
With over 120 years of cinematic history, Japan is one of the most influential cinematic nations in the world.
His legacy extends from legendary names such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu and Akira Kurosawa, winner of the 1980 Cannes Palme d’Or, to contemporary authors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Naomi Kawase and emerging names such as Chie Hayakawa, who continue to to carry high the colors of the official Cannes selection to this day.
The Marché du Film highlighted the country’s robust film industry which it said produces around 1,200 films per year.
He also highlighted the health of its film sector, attracting 150 million viewers each year, representing an overall gross of $1.3, suggesting a resilience demonstrated in an era defined by digitalization and an ever-increasing range of entertainment choices.
The 2026 edition will draw on Japan’s close relations with the Film Market, where Japanese sales companies are among the most established at the Palais des Festivals, while the Japan Pavilion, coordinated by UniJapan, is a must-see in the International Village.
“We are truly delighted and proud that Japan has been chosen as the country of honor. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the appeal of Japanese cinema on the world stage. We look forward to seeing Japan’s rich film culture, as well as its emerging talents and technologies, shine even more internationally and contribute to the advancement of cinema in Japan and around the world,” said Sakomoto.
Esmiol added: “Japan occupies a unique place in international cinema and its creative heritage continues to inspire generations of filmmakers. It also occupies a unique place in the Film Market, as it is one of the most represented and dynamic countries, with very active sales companies and producers. On a more personal note: as a person of Japanese origin, this is a great opportunity to pay homage to my cultural heritage.”
Japan’s participation will be organized by the Japan Country of Honor 2026 Executive Committee, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Specific program details and participating institutions will be announced in early 2026.
Japan follows Brazil (2025), Switzerland (2024), Spain (2023) and India (2022) as the fifth country in the spotlight, an initiative launched by the Marché du Film to recognize nations for their outstanding contributions to the global film industry and to foster international exchange and collaboration.
The Marché du Film 2026 will open its doors on May 12 and continue until May 20, while the Cannes Film Festival will continue until May 23.
