Barbara Streisand shares reason for withdrawing from Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony

Barbra Streisand will not attend the closing event of the Cannes Film Festival because of an injury.

On Sunday (17 May), the iconic performer, aged 84, announced in a statement that she is unable to collect her honorary Palme d'Or award personally at the ceremony on 23 May.

“Following my doctors' guidance as I continue to heal from a knee injury, I am, unfortunately, unable to be at the Festival de Cannes this year," Streisand stated. "However, I am truly honoured to receive the honorary Palme d'Or and was eagerly anticipating celebrating the outstanding films of the 79th edition.”

“I was also looking forward to reconnecting with colleagues I greatly admire — and of course, visiting France again, a country I adore,” she added. “Although I can't be there, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the filmmakers from across the globe whose remarkable talents and innovative visions are being acknowledged this year.”

“My sincerest thanks to the Festival and to everyone who continues to advocate for the art of filmmaking,” concluded The Way We Were star.

In her announcement, Streisand did not disclose the origin of her injury or how long her recovery might take.

Although absent, Streisand will still be recognised at the Cannes Film Festival's closing ceremony on Saturday, happening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

The festival communicated, “Iris Knobloch, Thierry Frémaux and the entire festival team convey their warmest wishes to Barbra Streisand for a swift recovery.”

Streisand will be recognised alongside two other recipients of this year's Palme d'Or awards, John Travolta and The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

Streisand last appeared publicly at the 98th annual Academy Awards on 15 March, where she performed a homage to her The Way We Were co-star Robert Redford, following his passing on 16 September 2025, at the age of 89.

The performer paid tribute to the late actor with a heartfelt performance of her iconic song of the same name from their 1973 romantic drama.

Streisand remarked about Redford before she started singing, “He was a masterful and understated performer. Our interactions were always full of surprises as we could never quite predict how the other would approach the scene.”