Leonardo DiCaprio Skips Palm Springs Awards After Airspace Shutdown
Leonardo DiCaprio was supposed to be in Palm Springs this weekend. Instead, he got stuck.
The actor skipped the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Jan. 3 after flights in the Caribbean were suddenly restricted. The reason? Military action launched by the Trump administration in Venezuela that led to airspace shutdowns across the region.
Leo, 51, was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in One Battle After Another. But he couldn’t make it out of St. Barths, where he’s been vacationing. He was recently spotted there with girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, along with Tom Brady and a few other familiar faces.
A spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Film Festival confirmed the situation, saying DiCaprio couldn’t attend due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace. They still went ahead with honoring him and praised his work and influence in film.
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
Around the same time, Palm Springs International Airport announced a temporary ground stop. Flights could land, but departures were delayed, and some incoming planes were diverted. The issue was tied to FAA air traffic control problems affecting Southern California. Things started moving again by late afternoon.
The award itself had been announced back in November. Festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi had described DiCaprio’s performance as intense, emotional, and one of his strongest yet. Big praise, but sadly, no in-person moment.
The travel mess comes from a much bigger situation. President Donald Trump ordered military strikes in Venezuela, targeting key locations including Caracas and military bases. He accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of drug trafficking and claimed the strikes were meant to dismantle his regime. Maduro has denied all allegations.
Because of the conflict, airlines avoided Venezuelan airspace completely. Flights across the eastern Caribbean were canceled left and right. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and several other destinations were affected. Some airlines waived change fees, but the damage was already done.
Even with this hiccup, DiCaprio’s awards season isn’t slowing down. He’s nominated for Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 4 and for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes on Jan. 11.
Palm Springs missed him. But chances are, we’ll see him very soon.
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