Every autumn, a slender sandbar off Venice’s edge quietly overtakes the fashion calendar. Between September 2 and 12, the Lido hosts the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the oldest of its kind and still the one where couture houses test their newest chapters before Paris or Milan get a look-in.
This year brings Maggie Gyllenhaal presiding over the main jury, George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn collecting the festival’s first-ever Golden Lions for lifetime achievement, and a red carpet roster that includes Tom Cruise, Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Hugh Jackman.
Where Glamour Docks
Unlike Cannes, Venice’s stage isn’t a boulevard but a lagoon, and that changes how style arrives. Stars are typically ferried in by private water taxi, then driven the short stretch to the red carpet.
The Lido’s five-star anchor, Hotel Excelsior, has held that role since 1908, its Moorish-revival silhouette still the backdrop of choice for photocalls.
Those wanting distance from the frenzy base themselves off-island: Aman Venice, a sixteenth-century palazzo, is synonymous with quiet extravagance, while the Belmond Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca doubles as an unofficial green room for the industry crowd.
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This edition’s fashion subplot is arguably as newsworthy as its film lineup. With Chanel, Dior, Versace and Valentino all having installed fresh creative directors over the past year, Venice has become the unofficial preview ground for their reimagined codes, with stars road-testing looks months ahead of the runway shows proper.
Where Crowd Lingers
The Venice red carpet is only the loudest venue; the real off-duty sightings happen elsewhere. The Excelsior’s jetty is where most stars first step onto the Lido, making its dock and lobby a reliable place to loiter. Hotel Cipriani’s terrace bar has hosted everyone from Ben Affleck to Elton John, while the Gritti Palace’s canal-side lounge stays busy through the week.
Across in St. Mark’s Square, Caffè Florian remains the classic Venetian ritual: an espresso, the papers, and, if timing cooperates, a famous face nearby. Closer to the festival grounds, the Quintessentially Terrace and Lancia Café draw actors, DJs and journalists once official events wind down.
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For visitors rather than invitees, the appeal of Venice Film Festival 2026 lies in proximity without a ticket. Festival grounds function almost like an open-air exhibition, and the red carpet can be watched from the sidelines at no cost; only screenings require booking. Pack for a place that swings between velvet-rope formality and Belle Époque beach mornings, the Lido’s shorelines and art deco facades are as much a part of the season’s aesthetic as anything worn on the Palazzo del Cinema steps.
