Venice Film Festival 2026 Sets Dates, Stars, and Lineup

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 83rd Venice Film Festival returns this year as the world’s oldest cinematic showcase. As reported by Vogue Hong Kong, the event serves as a dynamic cultural and industrial hub, mixing premier studio releases, auteur cinema, documentaries, experimental works, and restored classics. The festival remains a vital incubator for global awards contenders while honoring cinema's historic legacy.

This year's program features a diverse slate. In addition to the main competition for the prestigious Golden Lion, parallel sections such as Orizzonti and Venezia Classici will showcase emerging filmmakers and historical restorations.

When Is the Venice Film Festival 2026?

The festival runs from September 2 to 12, 2026. According to digital media InItaly.it, a pre-opening screening on September 1 will showcase Tinto Brass’s restored classic Col cuore in gola.

Director Danny Boyle’s biographical drama Ink, starring Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, serves as the official opening film on September 2. The showcase will conclude on September 12 following the main awards ceremony with a screening of Giovanni Veronesi’s closing film Dio ride. Public ticket sales begin in mid-August.

Where Is the Venice Film Festival 2026 Held?

Screenings and official events take place on the Lido di Venezia, a seven-mile barrier island separating the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.

As noted by Vogue Hong Kong, festival activities focus on the central strip surrounding the historic Palazzo del Cinema.

Who Is Attending and Leading the Jury?

According to Vogue Hong Kong, American actor and director Maggie Gyllenhaal will serve as president of the main competition jury, joined by filmmakers Kaouther Ben Hania, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat, and Johnnie To, alongside composer Daniel Blumberg and film theorist Francesco Casetti.

Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement will reportedly be presented to 93-year-old actor Ellen Burstyn and 65-year-old filmmaker George Clooney.

A-list stars expected on the Lido include Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Robert Pattinson, Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Pamela Anderson, Alicia Vikander, and musician Phoebe Bridgers, who makes her formal acting debut in Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime. The festival will also host Noel and Liam Gallagher, who are attending to promote their new Oasis tour documentary, Don’t Look Back in Anger.

What to Watch in the Venice Film Festival 2026

The main competition features highly anticipated works, including Martin McDonagh’s ’70s-set black comedy Wild Horse Nine, Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, Florian Zeller’s Bunker, Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard, and Italian director Nanni Moretti’s Succederà questa notte.

Both sources highlighted an ongoing discussion regarding gender representation: only one of the 20 films vying for the Golden Lion, which is May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown, is directed by a woman. Addressing the criticism, artistic director Alberto Barbera emphasized that numerous female directors are featured across out-of-competition selections and side programs like Orizzonti.

Read: Why Is Hollywood Missing from Cannes?

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