Venice Film Festival returns to Lido

La Biennale di Venezia has set the 83rd Venice International Film Festival for September 2-12, 2026, on the Lido di Venezia, according to the festival’s official website. The event is being organized by La Biennale and directed by Alberto Barbera, continuing the long-running festival’s base on the Lido and its main public-facing hub around the Palazzo del Cinema. The official information page says ticket subscriptions for festival screenings were made available from July 23, while the festival’s deadlines page says the screening schedule will be published in mid-August. idealista/news, citing the festival website, reported this week that the September edition will again bring screenings, premieres and industry activity to the Lido. ### When exactly does the 2026 festival run? The official Biennale Cinema 2026 homepage says the festival will run from September 2 to September 12, 2026, on the Lido di Venezia. The festival page repeats those dates and identifies the event as the 83rd Venice International Film Festival under Barbera’s direction. The festival’s deadlines page adds two anchor points within that run: the opening ceremony is scheduled for September 2 and the awards ceremony and closing are scheduled for September 12. (labiennale.org) Those dates give the broad structure for the public program and the industry calendar around it. ### What is confirmed about the setting on the Lido? The Lido di Venezia remains the official site of the festival, according to La Biennale’s 2026 cinema pages. idealista/news said screenings, red-carpet premieres and related events will be centered on the Lido, with the Palazzo del Cinema again serving as a focal point for festival activity. (labiennale.org) The official information page lists festival venues, public services, accreditation and ticketing under the Biennale Cinema 2026 section, reinforcing that the event’s operational base is already in place. (labiennale.org) The same page also publishes subscription prices for Sala Grande screenings, including evening packages and concession rates. ### What role does Alberto Barbera have this year? (labiennale.org) Alberto Barbera is the festival director for the 83rd edition, according to the official Biennale Cinema 2026 homepage and festival page. His introduction for the 2026 edition also outlines themes expected to surface during the program, including multiple discussions of artificial intelligence during the festival. (labiennale.org) The official lineup page says the main Venezia 83 competition will include up to 21 feature-length films presented as world premieres. Other sections listed by La Biennale include Venice Open and additional strands for non-competition and specialized programming. ### What industry events are scheduled alongside the screenings? The Venice Production Bridge will run from September 3 to 9, 2026, according to the festival regulations and dates page. (labiennale.org) La Biennale describes it as the film market organized as part of the festival and dedicated to unreleased projects and works-in-progress. The dates page breaks that market activity down further. (labiennale.org) The Venice Gap-Financing Market and Book Adaptation Rights Market are scheduled for September 4-6, “Meet the streamers” for September 6-7, Final Cut in Venice for September 6-8, and the VPB Locations Market for September 7-8. ### What can audiences and press still expect before opening day? (labiennale.org) Mid-August is the next key date on the official calendar because that is when the screening schedule is due, according to La Biennale’s deadlines page. The same page lists August 5 as the deadline for press registration and August 12 as the deadline for Cinema and Cinema for Students full registration. (labiennale.org) The official information page says subscriptions for the 83rd festival were available from July 23, and it lists prices for Sala Grande packages tied to specific screening times. The next public milestones are the publication of the full schedule in mid-August and the opening ceremony on September 2 at the Lido di Venezia. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2)