Miss France Exits Miss Universe 2026 After 73 Years

A major shake-up has hit the Miss Universe organization, with Miss France announcing it will not send a representative to the 2026 competition, ending a streak of participation dating back to 1952.

According to HOLA!, the decision was announced in a statement from the Miss France Company, which said its values no longer align with the international pageant’s direction. According to the organization, concerns stemming from the 2025 competition played a significant role in the move.

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The statement said the withdrawal reflects a desire to remain faithful to the identity and commitments of the Miss France brand, adding that those principles are no longer aligned with the recent evolution of Miss Universe.

Miss France President Frédéric Gilbert said the decision was not made lightly.

“It has always been a milestone and a wonderful opportunity to showcase France on the international stage,” Gilbert said. “However, our responsibility is to ensure that we remain true to our values and to the identity of the Miss France competition.”

While Miss France is stepping away in 2026, the organization described the move as temporary and indicated it could reconsider participation in future years, depending on developments in the international competition.

The announcement immediately prompted a response from the Miss Universe Organization, which confirmed that France will remain part of the 2026 pageant despite the departure of its longtime national partner.

“The Miss Universe Organization announces a new chapter for Miss Universe France beginning with the 2026 cycle,” the organization said in a statement. It added that it will directly oversee the French franchise moving forward, describing the move as part of its broader global expansion strategy.

The split arrives after one of the most turbulent years in recent Miss Universe history. The 2025 competition, won by Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, became the subject of intense scrutiny online after third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo suggested she believed the final outcome came down to herself and Côte d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yacé.

Fan allegations of favoritism circulated throughout the pageant season, though no evidence of wrongdoing was presented.

Additional controversies followed. Yacé later resigned her continental title, while Finland faced international backlash after the then-titleholder Sarah Dzafce lost her crown over a social media post widely criticized as racist.

The fallout grew large enough that Finland’s prime minister issued a formal apology to several Asian countries.

Iceland’s representative also stepped away from the competition.