The Venice Film Festival 2026 begins Wednesday on the Lido island in Venice, Italy. The 83rd edition will bring major Hollywood stars, international filmmakers and highly anticipated films together.
The festival remains one of the biggest events in world cinema. It also plays an important role in the early Oscar race, with several past winners launching their campaigns in Venice.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Venice Film Festival 2026 |
| Edition | 83rd edition |
| Location | Lido, Venice, Italy |
| Opening | Wednesday, September 2, 2026 |
| Main Award | Golden Lion |
| Jury President | Maggie Gyllenhaal |
| Films in Competition | 21 |
| Awards Ceremony | September 12, 2026 |
Venice Film Festival 2026 Opens
The Venice Film Festival has a long history in international cinema. Organizers launched the event in 1932 as a noncompetitive festival.
The festival became an annual event in 1935. The Golden Lion later became its main prize. Since then, many acclaimed films have won the award.
Past Golden Lion winners include Rashômon, Belle de jour, Brokeback Mountain, Somewhere and Poor Things. Last year’s winner was Father Mother Sister Brother.
Festival Returns to the Lido
The festival doesn’t take place around Venice’s most famous landmarks. Instead, it centers on the Lido, a barrier island about 11 kilometers long.
Visitors can reach the island by ferry or vaporetto. The journey from central Venice usually takes around 20 minutes.
The Lido has a strong connection with cinema and literature. Thomas Mann used the island as the setting for Death in Venice. Director Luchino Visconti later adapted the story into a film.
Venice and the Oscar Race
Venice has become an important starting point for Oscar campaigns.
Festival director Alberto Barbera has pointed to the 2013 premiere of Gravity as an important moment. The film went on to win seven Oscars.
Since 2014, four Best Picture winners have premiered at Venice. They include Birdman, Spotlight, The Shape of Water and Nomadland.
The festival also hosted Best Picture nominees Frankenstein and Bugonia last year.
Major Stars Arrive by Boat
Celebrity arrivals are a major part of the Venice festival experience.
Many stars stay at luxury hotels across Venice’s islands. The Hotel Excelsior sits on the Lido and remains a key location for festival guests.
Other well known hotels include the Hotel Cipriani, Gritti Palace, St. Regis and Aman Venice. The historic Hotel Danieli has also reopened under the Four Seasons brand after renovations.
Stars often travel between hotels and festival events by private water taxi. Some then use cars for the short trip from the Excelsior docks to the red carpet.
Films and Representation Draw Attention
The 2026 festival also faces discussion about representation.
Only one of the 21 films competing for the Golden Lion comes from a woman director. May el Toukhy directs Woman Unknown.
The festival previously set a goal of having at least half of its competition films directed by women. The current selection shows that the industry still faces challenges in reaching that target.
Two Palestinian films appear in the official selection. They are Al Mowaten Osama by Ahmed Hassouna and Hiwar ma’albahr by Muayad Alayan.
The Venice4Palestine group has also called for changes involving the festival’s relationships with Israeli government linked institutions. It has additionally called for the Palestinian flag to fly during the festival.
Actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal will lead the main competition jury.
The jury includes Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, English composer Daniel Blumberg, French filmmaker Xavier Giannoli, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To.
The jury will decide the winners of the festival’s main awards. Organizers will announce the results on September 12.
What Happens Next at Venice Film Festival 2026
The festival will continue with screenings, premieres, press events and red carpet appearances.
Attention will remain on the films competing for the Golden Lion. Industry observers will also watch which movies gain momentum in the awards season.
The Venice Film Festival 2026 has opened with major stars, international films and strong attention from the awards community.
The festival will remain a key stop for filmmakers and actors as the new film awards season gets underway.
