The Venice Film Festival 2026 fashion parade is well underway, with the 83rd edition of the world’s oldest film festival delivering exactly the kind of considered glamour the Lido does better than anywhere else. Water taxis, grand palazzos, and a lineup of stars who clearly regard the red carpet as seriously as the films they’re there to promote: it’s Venice, so naturally.
Who Is at the 83rd Venice Film Festival
The headliners this year include Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Dakota Johnson, Alicia Vikander, and Robert Pattinson. George Clooney, whose appearances on the Lido with his wife, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, never fail to draw a crowd, is set to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, as is actress Ellen Burstyn.
Maggie Gyllenhaal leads the jury, joined by composer and artist Daniel Blumberg, French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli, and producer Johnnie To. Gyllenhaal is no stranger to the festival: her directorial debut, The Lost Daughter, won Best Screenplay here in 2021. According to Wikipedia, the opening and closing ceremonies will be hosted by Italian actors Greta Scarano and Nicolas Maupas.
The film slate features Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy Wild Horse Nine, Bucking Fastard with real-life sisters Rooney and Kate Mara, and Florian Zeller’s Bunker, starring Cruz and Bardem. The La Biennale di Venezia confirms the festival holds official FIAPF recognition, as it has throughout its long history.
Awards Beyond the Golden Lion
The on-screen prizes are not the only honours being handed out this year. La Biennale di Venezia confirms that Luca Guadagnino will receive the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker 2026 Award, with the ceremony scheduled for 8 September in the Sala Casinò at the Palazzo del Casinò at 3:00 pm. Separately, actress Serena Rossi is set to receive the 2026 Campari Passion for Film Award, with that ceremony taking place on 10 September at the Palazzo del Cinema at 9:30 pm. Two awards ceremonies, both with confirmed times and venues, which is more logistical precision than you usually get from the Lido.
Venice Film Festival 2026 Fashion: The Looks
As ever, the fashion has been doing a lot of the talking. Venice in recent years has carved out a role as a kind of pre-season preview for fashion month, with designers using the red carpet to offer early glimpses of new collections before the official shows begin. In 2025, Louise Trotter, Jonathan Anderson, and Matthieu Blazy all used the festival to preview work for Bottega Veneta, Dior, and Chanel respectively. Whether Pieter Mulier’s vision for Versace continues to take shape here in 2026 remains to be seen across the coming nights.
So far, the looks have not disappointed. Kendall Jenner arrived at the Wild Horse Nine screening on 3 September in Giorgio Armani with Briony Raymond jewellery. Parker Posey went in Valentino for the same screening, while Vittoria Cerretti chose Giorgio Armani Privé. Phoebe Waller-Bridge opted for Celine, and Mariacarla Boscono wore Chanel.
The Mara sisters brought real symmetry to the Bucking Fastard screening on 3 September: Kate in Giorgio Armani Privé and Cartier jewellery, Rooney in Louis Vuitton. Robert Pattinson wore Dior and Suki Waterhouse wore Saint Laurent to the Primetime screening on 5 September, while Phoebe Bridgers went in McQueen. Irina Shayk appeared in vintage Dolce & Gabbana at the Echo Chamber screening on 6 September. Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender also attended that screening.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, in Balenciaga, fronted the jury duties at the 15/18 A Place To Heal screening on 4 September. Marion Cotillard, Georgina Rodriguez, and Bhavitha Mandava (the latter in Chanel) all attended the Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? screening on 4 September. Irina Shayk returned to the carpet at the L’Estranea screening on 7 September, and Susan Sarandon was also present at the Echo Chamber event.
With screenings running through to the closing ceremony and Serena Rossi’s award on 10 September, the Venice Film Festival 2026 fashion story has several more nights still to run.
