A widespread power outage struck southeastern France, cutting electricity to 160,000 homes and disrupting daily life in Cannes and nearby towns. The blackout affected traffic signals, businesses, and even the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, forcing organizers to switch to emergency power sources to keep events running.
🚨🇫🇷 Major Blackouts across the South of France
Only weeks after the mass power outages across Spain & Portugal – now France are at it. pic.twitter.com/kp3PxHKAHV
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) May 24, 2025
Breaking:
Cannes has suffered a mass power outage, on the day of the film festival awards ceremony #Cannes78
Power went out across the city, including in screening rooms, and taking out all internet.
Latest: https://t.co/2qLdmwXrD3
— Screen International (@Screendaily) May 24, 2025
🚨BREAKING! Blackout in Cannes: power outage hits city during film festival finale
Cannes was plunged into darkness at the peak of its world-famous film festival, reports Screen Daily. According to the outlet, the outage has affected both the city of Cannes and nearby Antibes,… pic.twitter.com/JUFnrz2q3M
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 24, 2025
Authorities are investigating the cause of the outage, with early reports pointing to a fire at an electrical substation near Cannes. Police suspect arson may be involved, though no arrests have been made. The fire weakened the grid overnight, and by morning, a high-voltage line failure plunged the region into darkness.
The timing of the blackout could not have been worse. Cannes was hosting the final day of its world-famous film festival, drawing global attention to the city. Traffic lights failed, causing congestion in the streets, while businesses struggled to operate without electricity. Some shops closed entirely, while others resorted to cash-only transactions.
Emergency crews worked quickly to restore power, but the scale of the outage made repairs difficult. The French electricity transmission system operator RTE confirmed that restoration efforts were underway, though full service had not yet been restored.
The incident has raised concerns about infrastructure security. If arson is confirmed, it would mark a serious attack on critical energy systems. Officials are reviewing security measures at substations and transmission lines to prevent future disruptions.
Sources:
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250524-cannes-hit-by-power-outage-on-final-day-of-film-festival