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John had not been told it was coming. Holding back tears, he told the audience, “This is beyond the Oscar.” He then exclaimed in French, “Surprise complètement! I can’t believe this. This is the last thing I expected.”
John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
Turning to Thierry, John added, “You said this would be a special night, but I didn’t know it would mean this.” Thierry responded simply, “We knew!”
John went on to describe the moment Thierry shared that the film had been selected, recalling, “When Thierry said it was not only accepted but it was making history because it would be the first film ever accepted that early, I cried like a baby because I just couldn’t believe it.”
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John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
He called receiving the honorary Palme “a humbling moment” and thanked Thierry from the bottom of his heart. Following the screening, John returned to the stage for a conversation with Thierry, where he spoke about how his passion for aviation began in childhood.
He pointed to his family in the audience and credited his oldest sister, Ellen, and his mother as the true inspirations behind the film — and behind his entire artistic journey. “It means the world to me that you’re here,” he told the crowd.
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John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
It is John’s fourth appearance at Cannes, following screenings of “Pulp Fiction” in 1994, “She’s So Lovely” in 1997, and “Primary Colors” in 1998. “Pulp Fiction” won the Palme d’Or that year, while Sean Penn took home the Best Actor prize for “She’s So Lovely” in 1997.
This year, Cannes had also pre-announced honorary Palmes for Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand, to be awarded on the festival’s opening and closing nights respectively — but John’s was a surprise addition, continuing a recent tradition.
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John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
John Travolta accepts the Honorary Palme Award onstage during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Plage Macé on May 15, 2026 in France. | Source: Getty Images
Denzel Washington received an unannounced honorary Palme last year ahead of the premiere of “Highest 2 Lowest,” and Tom Cruise received one in 2022.
John has been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar twice in his career and has appeared at Cannes four times — but by all accounts, this was his most memorable night at the festival yet. “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” begins streaming globally on Apple TV on May 29.
