The stars are shining brightly on the 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet—thanks in large part to their megawatt jewelry. And the Croisette is no place for subtlety, so attendees are stepping up their game and embracing the allure of over-the-top, showstopping gems.

Many attendees kept it classic in diamonds. But classic, as they reminded us, is not synonymous with boring. Take Demi Moore, who wore a necklace of five tiers of marquise-cut diamonds (clocking in at a whopping 226.34-carats at that) to the Cannes Opening Ceremony, or Alia Bhatt, who caught our eye with an Art Deco-inspired Sunita Shekhawat choker studded with rose-cut diamonds. Never one to let the women have all the fun, Colman Domingo reminded us that earrings can be just as exciting as statement necklaces; at the Kering Women In Motion Awards, the actor showed off an expressive Boucheron squid earring, its tentacles wrapping around his cartilage.

Naturally, other precious gems made strong showings. Adriana Lima elevated a strapless black gown with a diamond Chopard collar, a 129-carat emerald cabochon resting at the center, while Laetitia Casta opted for a diamond pavé Messika necklace with a magnificent sapphire pendant.

And there were also plenty of shakeups, too, with many choosing to embrace stones well beyond the expected diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu accessorized a plum Saint Laurent gown with pale aqua Paraíba tourmalines from Pomellato; Ruth Negga’s enormous Chopard fire opal was flanked by clusters of amber orange stones; Barbara Palvin paired a burst of rubies and diamonds with a cameo pendant.

Here, see the most eye-catching, jaw-dropping jewelry moments from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Word of advice: get out your sunnies or get ready to squint from all the sparkle.