The 39th Cannes Film Festival took place from 8 to 19 May 1986.

[4] American filmmaker Sydney Pollack served as jury president for the main competition.

British filmmaker Roland Joffé won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film The Mission.

[5][6][7][8] The festival opened with Pirates by Roman Polanski,[9] and closed with El amor brujo by Carlos Saura.

[10] The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:[12][3] The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section:[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 25th International Critics' Week (25e Semaine de la Critique):[13] The following films were screened for the 1986 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):[15]