[4] American author Tennessee Williams served as jury president for the main competition.

American filmmaker Martin Scorsese won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Taxi Driver.

A new non-competitive section, L'Air du temps, focused on contemporary subjects was introduced.

[5][6] The festival opened with That's Entertainment, Part II by Gene Kelly,[7][8] and closed with Family Plot by Alfred Hitchcock.

[9] The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:[3] The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:[3] The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:[3] The following feature films were screened for the 15th International Critics' Week (15e Semaine de la Critique):[11] The following films were screened for the 1976 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):[12]