The Festival which will take place at Lido of Venice, confirms the Cinema Palace as the heart of the event. The83rd Venice International Film Festival of the Venice Biennale, directed by Alberto Barbera, will bring together directors, actors, producers, and audiovisual industry professionals from around the world, once again transforming the Lido into the international capital of cinema. Alongside the main competition, the program will include the following sections: Horizons, Venice Classics, Venice Immersive and numerous collateral events dedicated to new forms of cinematographic and audiovisual language.
La Venice International Film Festival of the Venice Biennale It is the oldest film festival in the world and, since 1932, represents one of the places where cinema writes its own history. Born as an intuition of the Venice Biennale, the festival transformed the Lido into a meeting place for artists, intellectuals, and international audiences, helping to recognize cinema as one of the great cultural expressions of the twentieth century. Through wars, social upheavals, and profound transformations in cinematic language, the Festival has managed to renew itself without losing its identity. Its red carpet has seen the greatest protagonists of the seventh art, and its theaters have presented films destined to become history, establishing directors such as Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Akira Kurosawa, Michelangelo Antonioni, and many others.
Today, Venice continues to be much more than a festival: it is the place where cinema meets art, industry, and culture, anticipating trends, nurturing new talent, and offering a privileged showcase for productions from all over the world. Every year, between the end of August and the beginning of September, the Lido returns to being the international capital of the seventh art, where the Golden Lion, symbol of the city of Venice, celebrates cinematic excellence and renews a tradition that has continued to look to the future for over ninety years.
The Golden Lion is the most prestigious award of the Venice International Film Festival.
And it is one of the most coveted awards in the entire international film scene. More than a simple trophy, it represents the symbol of artistic excellence and cinema's ability to interpret its time through innovative languages, narrative depth, and expressive power. The award takes its name from the Lion of San Marco, emblem of the city of Venice and its ancient Republic, a symbol of authority, freedom, and cultural prestige. Receiving the Golden Lion means joining a tradition that, from the post-World War II era to the present, has honored works destined to leave a mark on the history of cinema, acclaiming established auteurs and revealing new talents. Awarded by the international jury to the best film in competition, the Golden Lion is considered not only a recognition of a work's artistic quality but also an indicator of the trends and sensibilities redefining contemporary cinematic language. For this reason, winning it signifies a recognition that goes beyond commercial success: it is the recognition of a significant contribution to the evolution of global cinematic culture.
As we await the official presentation of the program, scheduled for late July, the 2026 edition of the Venice Film Festival promises to be particularly rich. Among the most anticipated titles is Martin McDonagh's new film. Wild Horse Nine, The Social Reckoning by Aaron Sorkin, Bunker by Florian Zeller and Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo by Takashi Miike. There's also great anticipation for the arrival of George Clooney, who will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, once again confirming the Lido's role as a hub for great international cinema. As for guests, it's already official that George Clooney will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 edition.
