DiCaprio Skips Palm Springs Film Awards Following U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
Leonardo DiCaprio will miss the Palm Springs International Film Awards this weekend due to the U.S. military strikes in Venezuela.
The 51-year-old actor was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in One Battle After Another at the ceremony on Saturday, January 3, in Palm Springs, California. Variety reported that DiCaprio could not leave St. Barths, where he was vacationing with girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti and other celebrities, because air travel in the Caribbean was restricted following the conflict.
“Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace,” a spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Film Festival told Variety.
“While we will miss celebrating with him in person, we are honored to recognize his exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema. His talent and dedication to the craft continue to inspire, and we are delighted to celebrate him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award this evening.”
The airport in Palm Springs also confirmed flight disruptions. “An FAA air traffic control issue is impacting Southern California airspace today. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted, and delays are expected. This is not specific to PSP and is affecting multiple SoCal airports,” the statement said. The ground stop was lifted later in the afternoon.
PSP TRAVEL ALERT: FAA air traffic control issue impacting SoCal airspace today. Departing flights are under a ground stop. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted and delays are expected. Check with your airline for the latest flight status. pic.twitter.com/rHIIvgM9y9
— Palm Springs International Airport (@flyPSP) January 3, 2026
The awards festival praised DiCaprio for his latest role. Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said, “In One Battle After Another, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a riveting and emotionally charged performance, embodying a man pushed to his breaking point in the face of relentless adversity. Across his career, DiCaprio has continually redefined what is possible in screen acting — bringing emotional depth, artistic integrity, and fearless commitment to every role. It is our honor to present him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award.”
The travel restrictions came after President Donald Trump ordered military strikes in Venezuela. The strikes targeted Caracas and multiple military bases as part of an effort to dismantle the regime of President Nicolás Maduro, who Trump accused of drug trafficking and funding criminal operations with oil revenue. Hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba, were canceled, according to the Associated Press.
DiCaprio stars alongside Chase Infiniti, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall in One Battle After Another, a black comedy-thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. He is also nominated for Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards on January 4 and for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes on January 11.
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