Cannes renamed its Mace beach after the late film star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot on Monday, May 18, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The ceremony was led by Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch and Cannes mayor David Lisnard [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The beach, located near the Palais des Festivals and the Majestic hotel where Bardot often stayed during filming, will now be called Brigitte Bardot beach [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Dogs will be allowed on the beach at set times each day, ending a previous ban on pets, in a shift toward more pet-friendly policies [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Brigitte Bardot died in December 2025 at age 91 at her home in St Tropez [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Bardot left the film industry in the 1970s and became a prominent, though controversial, animal rights activist while also linked to far-right politics in France [1, 2, 5].
Nearby Nice city has also named a beach in her honor and allows dogs there as a tribute to her animal rights work [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The changes in Cannes aim to honor Bardot's legacy and reflect evolving local attitudes toward pet access on beaches [3, 4].
The renaming and new dog access took effect during the May 18 ceremony in Cannes, marking the city's official recognition of Bardot's impact on the region and animal welfare causes [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
