The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest and most prestigious film festival in the world. Every year, it attracts leading figures from the international film scene to the Venice Lido, transforming the city into a vibrant meeting point both for auteur cinema and major productions. For anyone who loves films, the Venice Film Festival is a landmark event that is eagerly anticipated.

Founded in 1932 and organized by La Biennale di Venezia, the Festival has become an essential reference for the film industry and for those who follow the season’s most awaited premieres. If you are planning to join, we suggest our Venice Film Festival Offer.

The 2026 edition

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will take place on the Lido from 2 to 12 September 2026, reaffirming the festival’s central role in the international cultural landscape. This edition will present a curated selection of films, world premieres, and special projects that bring together established filmmakers and emerging voices. As always, the red carpet will be the heart of the event, accompanied by screenings, press conferences, and meetings that animate the days of the festival.

American director, actress, screenwriter, and producer Maggie Gyllenhaal will preside over the international jury, awarding the Golden Lion for Best Film along with the festival’s other official prizes.

Festival sections and atmosphere

Alongside the main competition, the Venice Film Festival offers each year a rich and diverse program designed to highlight different perspectives, languages, and sensibilities.

Parallel sections such as Orizzonti and Venice Classics complement the competition titles, making the festival a privileged observatory of contemporary cinema trends while keeping alive the memory of its most treasured heritage. The result is a program that blends international premieres, auteur works, restorations, and special screenings in a balance that perfectly reflects the spirit of the event.

The atmosphere on the Lido during the festival is unique: elegant, dynamic, and deeply connected to Venice’s tradition. Days unfold between screenings, meetings with leading film figures, press conferences, and moments dedicated to the public and the international press. Adding to the charm is the lagoon setting, which brings fascination and intensity to every movement, turning even a simple trip to the red carpet into part of the festival experience.

The most anticipated films

The 2026 edition of the Venice Film Festival promises to be particularly interesting thanks to a selection of highly anticipated titles and productions that are sure to attract the attention of both audiences and critics. As tradition dictates, the competition lineup will feature works by established filmmakers as well as new voices from international cinema, with a selection designed to explore contemporary themes through a variety of genres and styles.

World premieres will be among the most closely followed moments of the entire event, amplified by the strong media attention that accompanies every presentation on the Lido.

Among the films in competition and the most anticipated screenings, attention often focuses on titles that combine artistic value with international appeal, generating discussion, expectations, and predictions, even before the festival officially begins. The non-competitive sections often feature some of the festival’s most engaging events, including documentaries, debut features, event films, and restorations of great classics. It is this combination of discovery and anticipation that makes each edition of the Festival such an immersive experience, where every screening has the potential to become a memorable moment.

Hotel Indigo Venice and the connection to the Lido

For guests staying at Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena, reaching the Lido during the Festival is effortless. Thanks to the hotel’s proximity to water-transport connections, with a fast vaporetto ride you will easily get to the heart of the event.

This makes Hotel Indigo Venice an ideal base for experiencing the Festival in a practical way, allowing guests to return easily after screenings while also enjoying the peace of a more secluded neighborhood. The perfect balance between excitement, culture, and hospitality.