The fourth season of The White Lotus is currently being filmed on the French Riviera, notably in Cannes. The local dynamic is part of a broader context, marked by the arrival of other international productions such as Emily in Paris.
The shooting of the new season of The White Lotus has begun on the French Riviera. Cannes hosts a significant portion of the planned scenes, with organization extending over several months. The Cannes Film Festival will serve as a backdrop to the storyline. The production has confirmed a strong presence in the Alpes-Maritimes, with sequences filmed in Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and occasionally in Paris. HBO specifies that “the storyline will remain anchored on the French Riviera.”
The Cannes City Hall has outlined a comprehensive plan. The shooting “will extend over more than 50 days, spread over a four-month period.” This duration involves the continuous presence of teams in partner hotels, on the Croisette, and around spaces reserved for the Festival. The statement also mentions “more than 17,000 overnight stays generated in the municipality.” This volume confirms a direct economic impact for accommodations, providers, and local services.
The story follows a group of White Lotus guests and employees during a week at the Festival. This choice alters the series’ usual dynamic, which had so far taken place in more isolated settings. Cannes brings a particular density, with its flow of visitors, protocol rules, and a rhythm marked by screenings and red carpet events.
Two establishments play a central role. The Hotel Martinez becomes the “White Lotus Cannes.” The palace on the Croisette, built in 1929, offers a recognizable Art Deco decor. Its ivory facade, sculpted balconies, and hall adorned with a monumental chandelier serve as the setting for several scenes. The Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez appears under the name “White Lotus of the Cape.” The first images published on the series’ Instagram account show the team in action in the estate’s gardens.
The cast brings together international and several French actors. Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Coogan, Kumail Nanjiani, and Chris Messina star alongside Vincent Cassel, Laura Smet, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Corentin Fila, and Frida Gustavsson. Warner Bros Discovery details an extensive cast, including Chloe Bennet, Rosie Perez, Heather Graham, and Ben Schnetzer.
A territory already highly sought after by international productions
The presence of The White Lotus is part of a broader trend. The Alpes-Maritimes attracts numerous productions, with an increase in the volume of shootings. The Alpes-Maritimes Côte d’Azur Film Commission recorded 491 shootings in 2024, totaling 1,480 shooting days. These activities generated 65 million euros in direct economic impact, a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
The projects hosted cover a wide spectrum. Five feature films and seven fiction series for platforms marked the year. Netflix and Amazon invested in the department with productions like Qui sème le vent, Carpe Diem, and Heads of State. These projects generated 23 million euros in local spending. The shootings also included 140 commercials and 92 streaming programs. Brands like Lancôme, Dior, and Louis Vuitton chose the French Riviera for their campaigns. The hosting of 42 documentaries, 31 short films, and 19 music videos further strengthened the diversity of projects.
This attractiveness is confirmed with the arrival of another international production. Emily in Paris, a series produced by Netflix, is preparing a new stage of its European expansion. After Paris, Rome, Venice, or Saint-Tropez, the sixth season will include the Principality of Monaco and Greece. The shooting is scheduled from May 11 to September 30, 2026. This plan thus reinforces the presence of American platforms in the region and confirms the growing interest in Mediterranean settings.
This combination of projects creates a favorable environment for local professionals. Location managers, technicians, specialized providers, and production teams are directly involved in these shoots. The Cannes City Hall emphasizes that the The White Lotus project “will mobilize many local audiovisual industry professionals.” This mobilization adds to the benefits generated by productions already present in the department.
The fourth season of The White Lotus will continue until the heart of summer. The teams will alternate between indoor scenes in partner hotels, outdoor sequences on the Croisette, and occasional trips to neighboring towns. Cannes thus becomes a central element of the narrative, playing a role beyond just a backdrop.
