2026 Venice Film Festival Red Carpet Premieres & Closing Ceremony

Lights go up on the Lido di Venezia tonight as the 83rd Venice Film Festival kicks off its Opening Ceremony amidst the city’s timeless canals and historic piazzas.

Danny Boyle will present his world premiere Ink, starring Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, Jack O’Connell as Larry Lamb, and Claire Foy as Jules Davies. The red carpet event was attended by stars of the film, including guests Werner Herzog, Chase Sui Wonders, Laura Dern, Zazie Beetz, Jonathan Bailey, and Nicholas Galitzine.

The film follows media tycoon Rupert Murdoch as he acquires The Sun in 1969. Alongside editor Larry Lamb, Murdoch turns the daily newspaper into Britain’s most influential and provocative tabloid.

The jury for the main competition, which will decide the coveted Golden Lion for Best Film, is led by president Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is joined by an international panel of filmmakers and artists that includes Kaouther Ben Hania, Daniel Blumberg, Francesco Casetti, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat, and Johnnie To.

Marking its 83rd run, the festival continues to showcase its influence by generating buzz for potential Oscar nominations leading up to awards season. The Competition lineup features 21 films, including titles from Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard, Lance Oppenheim’s Robert Pattinson-led thriller Primetime, Andrea Pallaoro’s The Echo Chamber, Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love, and Florian Zeller’s Bunker, starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Beyond the main competition, the lineup includes Paul Schrader’s The Basics of Philosophy starring Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella; Place to Be featuring Ellen Burstyn and Pamela Anderson; Wim Wenders’ architectural study From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor; Russell Crowe’s directorial effort What Love Builds; and Luca Guadagnino’s doc Joie De Vivre.

This year, the festival will bestow its prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement upon George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn. Luca Guadagnino will receive the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker 2026 Award, with the ceremony taking place on Tuesday 8 September in the Sala Casinò (Palazzo del Casinò before the Out of Competition screening of his new documentary, Joie de vivre.

The festival itself runs from September 2nd to September 12th, and will close with director Giovanni Veronesi’s God Laughs.

Click through the gallery to see all the atmosphere from the red carpet and more.