Barbra Streisand shares health update after dropping out of Cannes Film Festival

Barbra Streisand has said she is managing an ongoing knee injury, which is why she is unable to attend this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The 84-year-old songstress was due to receive one of three honorary Palme d’Or awards at the 2026 French festival.

But she has now shared a statement clarifying why she will not be able to accept the honour at the closing ceremony on the French Riviera.

The statement read: ‘On the advice of my doctors as I continue recovering from a knee injury I am sadly unable to attend the Festival de Cannes this year.’

The EGOT-winner continued: ‘But I am deeply honoured to receive the honorary Palme d’Or and had so been looking forward to celebrating the remarkable films of the 79th edition.

‘I was also very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues whom I so admire – and, of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved.’

The Way We Were star added: ‘While I regret that I can’t be there in person, I want to extend my warmest congratulations to all of the filmmakers from around the world whose extraordinary talent and creative vision are being celebrated this year.

‘My heartfelt thanks to the festival, and to everyone who continues to support and champion the art of cinema.’

Despite her absence, the festival still plans to go ahead with its celebration of Streisand, as part of the closing ceremony later this week at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

The festival said in a statement: ‘Iris Knobloch, Thierry Frémaux and the entire festival team send Barbra Streisand their warmest wishes for a prompt recovery.’

So far during the 2026 iteration of Cannes, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and John Travolta have been presented with honorary Palme d’Or awards.

The Grease star was visibly overcome after receiving his, as he premiered his directorial debut at Cannes.

The 72-year-old said he was humbled to be presenting the film, which he described as ‘the most personal thing I’ve ever done’. Propeller One-Way Night Coach is an adaptation of his own 1997 children’s book of the same name.

Travolta was then blown away when festival director Thierry Frémaux presented him with the prestigious lifetime achievement award. Wearing a dark suit and cream beret (which the internet took notice of), Travolta declared: ‘This is beyond the Oscar.’

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