In depth · La Biennale di Venezia
The Venice Film Festival: the Lido, the Palazzo del Cinema and the Golden Lion
Every September the Lido becomes the capital of world cinema. La Biennale di Venezia calls its film festival “the oldest film festival in the world and one of the most prestigious”, and it is open to the public as well as to the industry. Every fact here comes from La Biennale’s own site, labiennale.org.
Updated October 2026
From the Excelsior’s terrace to the Palazzo del Cinema
The festival was born in 1932, as part of the 18th Venice Biennale, and its first screenings were held on the terrace of the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido. It became an annual event from 1935, and in 1937 the new Palazzo del Cinema, designed by the architect Luigi Quagliata, opened beside the sea. The Golden Lion of St Mark was introduced as the prize for best film in 1949.
Nine decades on, the festival is still on the Lido, on the same stretch of the Lungomare Marconi. The Palazzo del Cinema and its Sala Grande host the red-carpet premieres and the ceremonies; the PalaBiennale, the Sala Darsena, the Sala Giardino, the Sala Casinò and the other halls nearby carry the rest of the programme.
Our Lido guide Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido
The 83rd edition, 2–12 September 2026
The 2026 festival, directed by Alberto Barbera, opened on 2 September with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement for George Clooney; Ellen Burstyn received the second on 7 September. The Venezia 83 jury was chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
On 12 September the Golden Lion for Best Film went to Kvinde Ukendt (Woman Unknown) by May el-Toukhy, and the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize to Possible Love by Lee Chang-dong. Mathilde Arcel was named Best Actress for Woman Unknown, and John Malkovich Best Actor for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine. Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride closed the festival in the Palazzo del Cinema. La Biennale reports more than 117,000 tickets sold, 14 per cent more than in 2025.
Going as a member of the public
- Tickets are sold online only, through labiennale.org and its linked ticketing page, once the daily programme is published, usually in mid-August.
- Prices depend on the hall and the time of day: in 2026 a full-price seat in the Sala Grande cost €18–€50.
- Concessions are offered to under-26s, over-65s and Biennale Card holders, with proof of eligibility. Subscriptions for particular halls are sold online from July.
- Some screenings are for accredited guests only. La Biennale also offers promotional passes for under-26s and over-65s who do not work in film, and accreditation for university students.
- Venice Immersive, the virtual-reality section, takes place on the island of the Lazzaretto Vecchio.
Biennale Cinema (labiennale.org)
Getting to the Lido
Take the ACTV waterbus from Ferrovia (Santa Lucia station), Piazzale Roma or San Zaccaria to Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta, then walk along the Gran Viale to the seafront and the festival; lines 20 and MC run on to Lido Casinò. From Marco Polo Airport, the Alilaguna boats run to Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta. Check the festival timetables on actv.avmspa.it and alilaguna.it.
Our advice
Book your bed on the Lido or near San Zaccaria months ahead, and buy tickets the day the programme goes online: the Sala Grande premieres go first. The dates of the 2027 edition are announced by La Biennale on labiennale.org. Our advice: hire a bike for the festival days; the Lido is long and flat, and the ride along the sea between screenings is half the pleasure.
Venice on Film The Lido by bike The festival in our Arts & Culture list
Questions and answers
When is the Venice Film Festival?
Every year from late August or early September. The 83rd edition ran from 2 to 12 September 2026; La Biennale announces the 2027 dates on labiennale.org.
Can the public go to the Venice Film Festival?
Yes. Tickets for many screenings are sold online through labiennale.org once the daily programme is published, usually in mid-August; some screenings are for accredited guests only.
Where is the Venice Film Festival held?
On the Lido, at the Palazzo del Cinema (opened in 1937) and the halls around it, a waterbus ride from the city.
Who won the Golden Lion in 2026?
Woman Unknown (Kvinde Ukendt) by May el-Toukhy.
Sources: La Biennale di Venezia (labiennale.org: Biennale Cinema 2026, Information, Official Awards of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, and History of the Venice Film Festival), checked on 28 October 2026. Prices and programmes change each year: check labiennale.org.