The short answer: not in summer, except on the islands
Let us say it straight away: in season, no mainland beach in Cannes accepts dogs. Not on the Croisette, not in La Bocca, not along Gazagnaire. The text that counts is municipal by-law no. 24/4640 of 24 June 2024, published on the city's website, and it opens the public beaches to dogs only in the middle of winter, at set hours.
That does not make it a dead end. Three real solutions remain: the Lérins Islands, where the tourist office says dogs on a lead are allowed all year, the Plage des Mineurs in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, opened to dogs as a trial in summer 2026, and two beaches further east, in Villeneuve-Loubet and Cagnes-sur-Mer.
This guide names its sources and their dates. Checked in October 2026 against the by-laws and official pages of each town. Beach rules change by a simple mayoral order: before you set off, a phone call to the town hall concerned is worth more than any guide, ours included.
The rule in Cannes, then the alternatives
N° 01
Cannes · The rule
March to October: no public beach
By-law no. 24/4640 amends the police regulations for the beaches of Cannes. Previously, the 1990 regulations banned animals from the beach all year, on a lead or not. Dogs are now allowed on the public beaches from 1 November to 1 March only. Outside that period, so throughout spring, summer and early autumn, the ban remains complete. The municipal Zamenhof beach says so on its official page: dogs are not allowed. Offences fall under article R.610-5 of the French Penal Code.
N° 02
Cannes · Winter
In winter, the by-law allows dogs on the public beaches from 6 am to 9 am and from 6 pm to midnight. Three beaches remain excluded: Macé (renamed Brigitte Bardot in 2026), Favre Le Bret and Bijou Plage. First and second category dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead by an adult. Beware of a contradiction: the tourist office listings for Boulevard du Midi and Zamenhof, updated in December 2025, state that dogs are allowed 'from 1 November to 1 May with no time restrictions'. Between a tourism listing and a signed by-law, we go with the by-law, which is stricter.
N° 03
Cannes · All year
Private beach terraces, on a lead
The same by-law contains a little-known exception: on the terraces of beach establishments, animals are allowed with no date restriction, provided they are kept on a lead or tied up. The beach section itself, meaning the sunloungers and the sand, follows the winter rule. Allowed does not mean obliged: each operator remains free to accept your dog at the table or not. Call before you book. Our comparison of private beaches lists the addresses.
N° 04
Lérins Islands · By boat
This is the only Cannes answer in high season. The Cannes tourist office publishes two 'Plages autorisées aux chiens' listings, one per island: dogs are admitted provided they are kept on a lead, all year in 2026. Access is free, the crossing is not. The listing for Trans Côte d'Azur, which serves Sainte-Marguerite, states that animals are accepted on board, with an adult fare shown at €19 (checked June 2026, to be confirmed). For Saint-Honorat, check the conditions with the Planaria boat company before boarding. Take water and bags: the coves have no services at all.
N° 05
Mandelieu-la-Napoule · West
Mandelieu-la-Napoule town hall opened a section of the Plage des Mineurs, near the Port de la Rague, to dogs from 1 June to 30 September 2026. Only part of the beach is concerned. The rules published by the town: lead compulsory on the sand as far as the water's edge, swimming off the lead in the dedicated zone if the dog stays under control and within earshot, mandatory clean-up, waste station on site. It is a trial, contested by a residents' petition launched in June 2026. At the date of this check, we found no announcement that it will be renewed in 2027. The town's other beaches remain closed to dogs.
N° 06
Heading east · Car needed
In Villeneuve-Loubet, the tourist office presents the Plage de Vaugrenier, on the Route du Bord de Mer, as the only beach in the town that accepts animals. It is open all year in 2026 and closed from midnight to 6 am. In Cagnes-sur-Mer, the Plage de l'Hippodrome welcomes dogs between groyne 1 and groyne 2, on the boundary with Villeneuve-Loubet: they may be off the lead there if they stay under supervision and do not disturb other users (metropolitan tourist office listing, March 2026). In Golfe-Juan, a regulated dog zone was created on the Plage du Pont de l'Aube in 2023: we found no confirmation for 2026, so call the Vallauris Golfe-Juan tourist office before going.
What we'd skip
What we'd skip: trying your luck early in the morning in summer on a public beach in Cannes. The by-law's 6 am to 9 am slot applies only from 1 November to 1 March. In July, a dog on the sand is in breach at 7 am just as much as at noon.
We'd also skip trusting beach directories. Some display 'dogs allowed' for Bijou Plage or for a beach in Antibes, others mention a tolerance in Théoule-sur-Mer. Bijou Plage is excluded by name in the Cannes by-law, winter included. For Antibes and Théoule, we found no official page confirming a beach open to dogs: when in doubt, we do not recommend them.
Lastly, we would not take a dog to the islands unprepared. No services in the coves, no water point to rely on, lead compulsory everywhere. In hot weather, the first boat of the morning is the only sensible choice.
When, and the rules in town
The calendar, month by month. November to the end of February: the public beaches of Cannes in the morning and evening, except Brigitte Bardot, Favre Le Bret and Bijou. March to October: the Lérins Islands, or the beaches of Villeneuve-Loubet and Cagnes-sur-Mer. June to September: the Plage des Mineurs in Mandelieu, if the trial is renewed.
In town, the lead is the rule. A 2009 by-law regulates dogs in Cannes, and the city reminds owners that they must be kept on a lead in public spaces. It lists a dog area on Boulevard Vallombrosa and more than 185 bag dispensers. Picking up is compulsory: the city mentions a fine of up to €750. For any question about the by-law in force, the town hall switchboard answers on 04 97 06 40 00.
Beaches and dogs in Cannes: frequently asked questions
Is there a dog beach in Cannes?
Not in season on the mainland. Municipal by-law no. 24/4640 of 24 June 2024 allows dogs on the public beaches only from 1 November to 1 March, from 6 am to 9 am and from 6 pm to midnight, except on the Macé (Brigitte Bardot), Favre Le Bret and Bijou beaches. In summer, the only Cannes option is the Lérins Islands, with the dog on a lead.
Are dogs allowed on the Lérins Islands?
Yes, according to the Cannes tourist office: dogs are admitted on the beaches of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat provided they are kept on a lead, all year in 2026. The Trans Côte d'Azur listing states that animals are accepted on board. Check the crossing conditions before buying your tickets.
What is the nearest dog beach to Cannes in summer?
In summer 2026 it was the Plage des Mineurs in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, open as a trial from 1 June to 30 September. Its renewal in 2027 had not been announced at the date of this check. The beaches confirmed all year are further east: Vaugrenier in Villeneuve-Loubet and the Hippodrome in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
Can you have lunch at a private beach in Cannes with your dog?
The municipal by-law allows it on the terraces of beach establishments, with no date restriction, if the animal is kept on a lead or tied up. The final decision rests with each operator: call the venue before booking. The sunloungers and the sand remain subject to the winter rule.
What do you risk with a dog on a beach where they are banned?
A fine: the Cannes by-law refers to article R.610-5 of the French Penal Code, which penalises the breach of a police order. First and second category dogs must also be muzzled and kept on a lead by an adult anywhere on the public maritime domain.
IT Digital entrepreneur · Cannes local
2026-10-10 · 7 min read
Prices, opening hours and addresses change. Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
Read next