Venice Film Festival 2026: Films, Stars, Awards and Visitor Guide

The Venice International Film Festival returned to the Lido di Venezia from September 2 to 12, 2026, bringing world premieres, international stars, emerging filmmakers and some of the year’s most anticipated movies to the Venetian Lagoon.

Officially known as the 83rd Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica, the festival is organized by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera. It remains the oldest international film festival in the world and one of the most influential events on the global cinema calendar.

I have always found the Venice Film Festival fascinating because it combines two experiences that could hardly be more different: serious international filmmaking and the unmistakable glamour of Venice. Inside the cinemas, audiences discover ambitious new films dealing with war, politics, family, memory and identity. Outside, photographers wait for actors and directors arriving by boat, while visitors explore the Lido and historic Venice.

The 2026 edition offers exactly that mixture: major directors, politically charged documentaries, Italian productions, Hollywood personalities and experimental cinema.

Venice Film Festival 2026 at a Glance

Official name: 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Italian name: 83ª Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica
Dates: September 2–12, 2026
Location: Venice Lido, Italy
Artistic director: Alberto Barbera
International jury president: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Opening film: Ink, directed by Danny Boyle
Main award: Golden Lion for Best Film
Closing and awards ceremony: September 12, 2026

The festival takes place primarily around the Palazzo del Cinema and Palazzo del Casinò on the Lido rather than in the historic center of Venice. This distinction is important for travelers planning accommodation and transportation.

Why the Venice Film Festival Matters

Founded in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is the oldest event of its kind. Its first edition was held on the terrace of the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido as part of the Venice Biennale.

Over the decades, the festival has introduced international audiences to important works by Italian and foreign directors. Its highest honor, the Golden Lion, is now considered one of world cinema’s most prestigious awards.

Venice has also become an important starting point for the international awards season. Films premiered on the Lido frequently continue to the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and other major ceremonies.

Unlike a conventional movie premiere, however, Venice presents several different kinds of cinema. Established directors may compete beside less familiar filmmakers, while restored classics, documentaries, short films and immersive productions receive dedicated sections.

For a broader look at cinema events around the country, see Italia Mia’s guide to the top Italian film festivals.

Danny Boyle’s Ink Opens the Festival

The 2026 festival opened with the world premiere of Ink, directed by Danny Boyle and written by James Graham.

Starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, the film is set in 1969 and examines Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun and the transformation of popular journalism.

The subject immediately established one of the central themes running through the 2026 selection: the power of media, institutions and public narratives. Rather than choosing a purely celebratory opening film, Venice began with a story about influence, ambition and the ability of the press to shape society.

Ink was screened in competition in the Sala Grande following the opening ceremony on September 2.

The 21 Films Competing for the Golden Lion

The main Venezia 83 competition contains 21 feature films presented as world premieres. The selection combines well-known international directors with filmmakers appearing in the Venice competition for the first time.

NAZA — Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor

The only documentary in the principal competition, NAZA examines the war in Gaza. It was directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, members of the filmmaking team behind the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land.

Its late addition to the competition reinforced Venice’s willingness to give prominent space to politically difficult contemporary subjects.

Company — Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck directs a drama featuring Nick Nolte, Ben Mendelsohn, Adelaide Clemens, Scoot McNairy and Emily Alyn Lind. The film marks Affleck’s first appearance as a director in the Venice competition.

Kami Nour (A Bit of Light) — Ali Asgari

An international co-production involving Iran, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and Türkiye, Ali Asgari’s film continues the director’s exploration of personal lives shaped by social restrictions and institutional authority.

Ritorno a Buenos Aires — Marco Bechis

Italian director Marco Bechis returns to Argentina in a film starring Adriano Giannini, Ana Celentano and Verónica Gerez. The Italian-Brazilian production connects personal memory with the complicated political history of Buenos Aires.

Ink — Danny Boyle

The opening film stars Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy in a story about Rupert Murdoch, tabloid journalism and the transformation of the British media.

Un bon petit soldat — Stéphane Brizé

French director Stéphane Brizé brings together Vincent Lindon and Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher. Brizé is known for socially observant films concerned with work, economic pressure and moral choices.

Il fuoco che ti porti dentro (The Fire Within You) — Edoardo De Angelis

One of the major Italian entries, Edoardo De Angelis’s film stars Vanessa Scalera, Lino Musella, Elena Radonicich, Ivana Lotito and Tommaso Ragno.

Kvinde Ukendt (Woman Unknown) — May el-Toukhy

Set in postwar Denmark, Woman Unknown follows a woman whose relationship with a German soldier continues to shape her life after World War II. The film is directed by Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May el-Toukhy and stars Mathilde Arcel.

Bucking Fastard — Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog returns with a film starring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara, together with Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson. Herzog’s presence gives the competition one of its most distinctive and unpredictable filmmakers.

15/18 (A Place to Heal) — Cédric Kahn

The French drama by Cédric Kahn features Zoé Monpart, Malou Khebizi, Sophie Guillemin and Kahn himself.

Dau — Ilya Khrzhanovsky

At more than three hours, excluding its intermission, Dau is one of the most demanding films in the competition. The long-developed project grew from a planned biographical film about Soviet physicist Lev Landau into a much larger examination of Soviet society, human behavior and authoritarian power.

Look Back — Hirokazu Kore-eda

Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda presents Look Back, starring Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita and Masaki Suda. Kore-eda’s films are celebrated for their sensitive portrayals of families, relationships and people living at the edges of society.

Ga-neung-han sa-rang (Possible Love) — Lee Chang-dong

South Korean director Lee Chang-dong returns with a 164-minute drama starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.

Wild Horse Nine — Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh directs John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey in a politically inflected story involving CIA operatives and Chile around the time of the 1973 coup.

With that cast and McDonagh’s talent for combining dark comedy with moral discomfort, this is one of the most anticipated titles of the festival.

Succederà questa notte (It Will Happen Tonight) — Nanni Moretti

Nanni Moretti represents Italian cinema with an international cast that includes Louis Garrel, Jasmine Trinca, Hippolyte Girardot, Angela Finocchiaro and Melina Åkerman.

Moretti remains one of Italy’s most recognizable contemporary filmmakers, known for mixing politics, personal experience, humor and cultural observation.

Primetime — Lance Oppenheim

Robert Pattinson leads the cast of Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, alongside Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo and musician Phoebe Bridgers.

The Echo Chamber — Andrea Pallaoro

Italian director Andrea Pallaoro brings together Luca Marinelli, Alicia Vikander and Susan Sarandon in this Italian-Belgian production.

Un peu avant minuit — Nicolas Pariser

Nicolas Pariser’s French drama stars Melvil Poupaud, Chiara Mastroianni, Anaïs Demoustier and Golshifteh Farahani.

L’estranea — Paolo Strippoli

Another important Italian entry, L’estranea features Jasmine Trinca, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Adriano Giannini and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Nelson san, anata wa hito wo koroshimashitaka? (Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?) — Shinya Tsukamoto

Shinya Tsukamoto tells the story of Allen Nelson, an African American Vietnam veteran who later became an antiwar activist. The film stars Rodney Hicks, Geoffrey Rush, Tatyana Ali and Lily Franky.

Bunker — Florian Zeller

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem play a couple involved in creating a nuclear-proof shelter. The cast also includes Stephen Graham, Paul Dano and Patrick Schwarzenegger.

The premise places personal relationships inside an atmosphere of wealth, fear and global insecurity, making Bunker another closely watched title in the competition.

The complete and continually updated selection can be consulted on the official Venezia 83 competition page.

A Strong Italian Presence

Italian cinema occupies an important position in the 2026 competition.

The principal Italian-directed titles include:

Marco Bechis’s Ritorno a Buenos Aires
Edoardo De Angelis’s Il fuoco che ti porti dentro
Nanni Moretti’s Succederà questa notte
Andrea Pallaoro’s The Echo Chamber
Paolo Strippoli’s L’estranea

Italian performers also appear in international productions. Alba Rohrwacher stars in Stéphane Brizé’s Un bon petit soldat, while Jasmine Trinca appears in two competition films: Moretti’s Succederà questa notte and Strippoli’s L’estranea.

This mixture of established directors and newer voices provides a useful snapshot of contemporary Italian cinema. Readers interested in the country’s screen culture can continue with Italia Mia’s overview of Italian cinema and its recent trends.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Leads the International Jury

American actress, screenwriter, producer and director Maggie Gyllenhaal serves as president of the Venezia 83 international jury.

She is joined by:

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania
British composer and artist Daniel Blumberg
Italian film scholar Francesco Casetti
French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli
Afghan director and screenwriter Shahrbanoo Sadat
Hong Kong director and producer Johnnie To

Together, the jury will decide the Golden Lion for Best Film and the other principal competition awards.

These include the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Volpi Cups for Best Actress and Best Actor, Best Screenplay Award, Special Jury Prize and Marcello Mastroianni Award for an emerging performer.

Learn more about the Italian star behind the young-performer award in Italia Mia’s biography of Marcello Mastroianni.

George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

The 2026 festival honors two major American actors with Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement.

George Clooney received his award during the opening ceremony on September 2. His long association with Venice includes the presentation of Good Night, and Good Luck and numerous appearances at the festival. Venice also has personal significance for Clooney, who married Amal Alamuddin in the city in 2014.

Ellen Burstyn received a second Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on September 7. Her extraordinary career includes The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Requiem for a Dream and Interstellar.

At 93, Burstyn also appeared at the festival in Flesh Impact, a short film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Place to Be, directed by Kornél Mundruczó.

Luca Guadagnino Honored in Venice

Italian director and producer Luca Guadagnino received the 2026 Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award, recognizing an original contribution to contemporary cinema.

The award was presented before the out-of-competition screening of his documentary Joie de vivre. Guadagnino’s career includes internationally successful films such as Call Me by Your Name, Suspiria, Bones and All, Challengers and After the Hunt.

His recognition is especially meaningful in Venice because the festival has played an important role in his development as an international filmmaker.

More Than the Golden Lion Competition

The principal competition receives most of the international media coverage, but it represents only one part of the festival.

Venice Open — Out of Competition

This section presents work by established filmmakers, documentaries, special projects, series and films whose form does not necessarily fit the main competition.

The 2026 selection includes Wim Wenders’s From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor, Luca Guadagnino’s Joie de vivre, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Flesh Impact and Kornél Mundruczó’s Place to Be.

Orizzonti

Orizzonti focuses on new aesthetic and expressive developments in international cinema. It is often one of the most rewarding sections for viewers hoping to discover filmmakers before they become widely known.

Venice Spotlight

Venice Spotlight presents a focused selection of films intended to reach a wider public while retaining an independent identity.

Venice Classics

This section celebrates cinema history through restored films and documentaries about filmmaking. It offers a welcome counterpoint to the emphasis on premieres and new releases.

Biennale College Cinema

Biennale College Cinema supports emerging filmmakers in developing and producing ambitious micro-budget features. It is one of the festival’s most practical contributions to the future of international filmmaking.

Venice Immersive

Venice Immersive is dedicated to extended reality and other new forms of audiovisual storytelling. The projects are presented on Venice Immersive Island, located on Lazzaretto Vecchio near the Lido.

Visitors can explore the complete 2026 festival lineup before selecting screenings.

How to Attend the Venice Film Festival

The festival is not reserved exclusively for actors, journalists or film-industry professionals. Members of the public can purchase tickets for many screenings, subject to availability.

Tickets for 2026 screenings are sold online through the festival’s official Vivaticket ticketing portal. Popular premieres and evening screenings can sell out quickly, so it is advisable to book as soon as seats become available.

Before purchasing, check the public screening schedule. A film may be shown more than once and in different venues, with prices and availability varying according to the screening.

Visitors should arrive early and read the access conditions attached to each ticket. A red-carpet event and the corresponding public screening may have different entry arrangements.

Where the Screenings Take Place

The center of the festival is the area around Lungomare Marconi on the Venice Lido.

Principal venues include:

Palazzo del Cinema and its Sala Grande
Sala Darsena
Palazzo del Casinò
PalaBiennale
Sala Giardino
Venice Immersive Island

The Palazzo del Cinema, inaugurated in 1937, remains the symbolic home of the festival. Its Sala Grande hosts many of the most important premieres and ceremonies.

Festival venues are accessible to visitors with disabilities, although special ticket procedures may apply. Anyone requiring assistance should consult the official festival information page before booking.

Getting to the Venice Lido

From Venice’s historic center, visitors travel to the Lido by vaporetto. The principal arrival point is Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta, usually abbreviated to Lido S.M.E.

From there, buses connect the vaporetto terminal with the Palazzo del Cinema and other festival venues along Lungomare Marconi. Service details can change, especially during major events, so travelers should check the current ACTV public transportation information before leaving.

From Venice Marco Polo Airport, visitors can reach Venice and the Lido by water transport or by combining an airport bus with the vaporetto network.

Travelers arriving by train will reach Venezia Santa Lucia station, where they can board a vaporetto toward the Lido.

Where to Stay During the Festival

Staying on the Lido is the most convenient option for anyone planning to attend several screenings. It reduces late-night transportation concerns and makes it easier to reach early morning events.

Historic Venice offers a much wider selection of restaurants, monuments and evening walks, but visitors must allow time for the vaporetto journey. Areas near San Marco and the eastern districts of Castello are particularly convenient for boat connections toward the Lido.

Mestre can be more affordable, although the journey requires additional transportation and is less practical after a late screening.

For carefully selected accommodation in different parts of the city, see my guide to Venice’s 10 best hotels. The guide includes luxury hotels, historic palaces and well-positioned alternatives for exploring Venice.

Combining the Festival With a Venice Vacation

The Film Festival can be the centerpiece of a longer stay rather than the only reason to visit.

Between screenings, visitors can explore the beaches and Art Nouveau villas of the Lido or take a vaporetto into historic Venice. Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge, the Accademia galleries and the quieter streets of Cannaregio and Castello are all within reach.

The islands of Murano and Burano make worthwhile excursions, although they should not be squeezed between closely scheduled films. Those interested in Venetian craftsmanship may enjoy Italia Mia’s introduction to Venini Murano glass.

Travelers continuing through northeastern Italy can also consult the complete guide to the Veneto region.

Useful Books About Venice and the Film Festival

The Venice International Film Festival by Peter Cowie

Film historian Peter Cowie explores the personalities, controversies and major movies that shaped the world’s oldest film festival. Find the book on Amazon.

Happy 75°: A Brief Introduction to the History of the Venice International Film Festival

Published by La Biennale di Venezia, this illustrated history follows the festival from its creation in 1932 through political upheavals, artistic changes and modern reforms. Search for the book on Amazon.

Venice Travel Guides

A current guidebook is useful for understanding vaporetto routes, neighborhoods, restaurants and the geography of the lagoon. Browse Venice travel guides on Amazon.

The Golden Lion and the Final Awards

The Golden Lion for Best Film will be presented during the closing ceremony on September 12, together with the remaining official awards.

Until the jury announces its decisions, predictions are only speculation. The 2026 competition is unusually varied, moving from political history and media influence to war, family relationships, personal memory and global insecurity.

That variety is one of the reasons Venice remains important. The festival can attract attention through movie stars and red-carpet fashion, but its lasting influence comes from the films themselves—and from the conversations they begin long after the boats, cameras and international guests have left the Lido.

Editor’s note: This article reflects information available while the 83rd Venice International Film Festival is still taking place. The winners should be added following the official awards ceremony on September 12, 2026.