In the middle of a film festival, the city of Cannes on Monday renamed one of its public beaches “Brigitte Bardot”, in homage to the film star who died in December 2025. And, a nod to the animal cause defended with passion by the French actress until the end of its life, dogs will now be able to access this beach at certain times, outside the summer period, the town hall said.
It is the so-called Macé beach, close to the Palais des Festivals and located between two private beaches, which takes the name of the cinema icon, according to the Cannes town hall. A small ceremony took place Monday morning, in the presence of the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, the president of the Cannes festival, Iris Knobloch, the general delegate of the festival, Thierry Frémaux, and Bernard d’Ormale, widower of Brigitte Bardot and president of its foundation.
« Brigitte Bardot embodied freedom »
“Brigitte Bardot embodied freedom: that of a woman, of her body, of her choices; that of a career over which she will always have had control. It was revealed in Cannes, on the Croisette, where it sparked enthusiasm and already made an impression,” declared David Lisnard.
Brigitte Bardot died on December 28, 2025 at the age of 91. She had long embodied the liberation of morals in France before May-1968 before distinguishing herself, at the end of her life, by certain controversial declarations on politics, immigration, feminism or hunters.
The Palme d’Or of 79e Cannes Film Festival will be awarded on May 23 at the end of a two-week competition, during which the jury chaired by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will have viewed 22 films in competition.
