Barbra Streisand won’t attend the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony to accept her Honorary Palme d’Or after a recent knee injury. The 82-year-old legend was scheduled to receive the lifetime achievement award on Sunday, marking her first-ever appearance at the prestigious French festival. A spokesperson confirmed she won’t make the trip from Los Angeles to the French Riviera due to medical advice to avoid travel and red-carpet activity right now.

Fest organizers announced her absence on Saturday, just a day before the ceremony. They said Streisand’s health comes first after she fell and hurt her knee. The injury happened days before she was supposed to leave for Cannes, prompting doctors to recommend she stay off her feet. Streisand, famous for films like A Star Is Born and Funny Girl, has never attended the festival in its 77-year history.

What’s the Honorary Palme d’Or and why’s she getting it?

The Cannes Film Festival gives out the Honorary Palme d’Or to filmmakers and artists who’ve shaped cinema over decades. Past winners include Jane Fonda, Martin Scorsese, and the late Clint Eastwood. Streisand joins a small group of women who’ve received the honor—only five others have gotten it, including Agnès Varda in 2015. The award celebrates her 60-plus years in entertainment, from Broadway to Hollywood and music charts.

Streisand’s team hasn’t said if she’ll accept the award in person later or receive it privately in the U.S. Either way, the festival will still honor her during the closing ceremony. Festival president Iris Knobloch called Streisand a ‘true icon’ in a statement, praising her impact on film and music. The ceremony airs live on French TV at 8 p.m. local time, with no Streisand in sight.

How Cannes handles last-minute no-shows

This isn’t the first time Cannes has adjusted plans for a high-profile absence. In 2022, Tom Cruise missed the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick due to a scheduling conflict, and in 2019, Spike Lee pulled out of the jury amid health concerns. The festival usually has a backup plan for such moments, like pre-taped speeches or tributes. Streisand’s case is different—her injury came too close to the event for a replacement plan.

The news adds to Cannes’ already busy week. The festival’s main competition premiered films from directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Luca Guadagnino this year. Streisand’s absence puts a spotlight on the festival’s tradition of honoring legends, even when they can’t be in the room. It’s a rare miss for an event that prides itself on star power.

What happens next depends on Streisand’s recovery. If she heals quickly, she might do a virtual thank-you or accept the award at a later event. For now, the festival moves forward without her—just like it always does.

The bigger picture for Streisand and Cannes

Streisand’s connection to Cannes has always been indirect. She’s won two Oscars, eight Grammys, and a Tony, but never set foot on the Croisette before. Her film Yentl (1983) premiered in New York, not Cannes, despite its success. This year’s snub wasn’t about her work—it’s about her health. The injury shows how even legends aren’t immune to life’s setbacks.

For the festival, Streisand’s absence is a missed opportunity. Her name draws attention, and her first-ever appearance would’ve been historic. But Cannes adapts. The show goes on, awards are given, and the red carpet stays busy. Streisand’s legacy remains untouched—just delayed by a few weeks.

The festival ends Sunday with the Awards Ceremony, where the Palme d’Or for best film will be handed out. Streisand’s Honorary Palme d’Or will still be presented, just without her in attendance. It’s a small but telling moment for a festival built on glamour and spontaneity.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Rolling Stone
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 19:51 UTC
  • Category: Entertainment
  • Topics: #music · #rolling-stone · #culture · #entertainment · #movies · #barbra-streisand

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A lenda da música e do cinema Barbra Streisand, ícone global que já encantou gerações com sua voz inconfundível e performances memoráveis, agora coleciona mais uma história de resistência — mas desta vez, contra uma lesão no joelho. A artista, agraciada com o Prêmio Palme d’Honneur do Festival de Cannes, não poderá comparecer à cerimônia de encerramento do evento, que acontece na noite desta quarta-feira (15), devido a uma contusão que a impede de viajar até a França.

A notícia surpreendeu fãs e especialistas, já que Streisand, aos 82 anos, sempre foi conhecida por sua presença marcante em eventos culturais e pela energia que carrega nos palcos e nas telas. O festival, um dos mais prestigiados do mundo, homenageia a carreira da cantora, atriz e diretora com o prêmio especial, reconhecendo sua contribuição inestimável ao cinema e à música. Para o público brasileiro, acostumado a acompanhar de perto as celebridades internacionais em eventos como o Oscar, a ausência de Streisand em Cannes reforça a humanização das estrelas, mostrando que até os maiores ícones estão sujeitos aos limites do corpo.

Ainda não há previsão se a cantora participará de outro momento para receber a homenagem ou se a cerimônia será filmada para registro histórico.