Venice Film Festival 2026 lineup unveiled

Among the titles in competition is Martin McDonagh's 'Wild Horse Nine', alongside Robert Pattinson's 'Primetime'

The 2026 Venice International Film Festival has unveiled its highly anticipated lineup, with new films from acclaimed filmmakers Martin McDonagh, Danny Boyle, Werner Herzog and Florian Zeller leading a star-studded programme packed with awards-season contenders.

Among the biggest titles in competition is Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, alongside Robert Pattinson's Primetime, Florian Zeller's Bunker starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, and Werner Herzog's Bucking Fastard featuring sisters Kate and Rooney Mara. 

The festival will open on September 2 with Danny Boyle's Ink, a drama exploring media mogul Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of The Sun. The film will premiere out of competition before the festival runs through September 12 on the Venice Lido. 

This year's competition also includes new works from acclaimed international directors including Lee Chang-dong, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Stéphane Brizé, May El-Toukhy and Casey Affleck, with Maggie Gyllenhaal serving as jury president. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will each receive honorary Golden Lions celebrating their contributions to cinema.

Outside the main competition, Venice will host several high-profile documentaries, including Alex Gibney's four-hour portrait of Elon Musk and Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, chronicling the Gallagher brothers' long-awaited reunion. Luca Guadagnino will also present an ambitious seven-hour tribute to legendary Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci.

The lineup has also sparked discussion over representation behind the camera. According to Variety, May El-Toukhy is the only woman directing a film in this year's main competition, marking the festival's lowest level of female representation in five years.

Despite a lighter presence from major Hollywood studios, Venice remains one of the industry's most influential awards-season launchpads. This year's programme blends prestige auteurs, international cinema and star-driven premieres, setting the stage for another closely watched race toward the Golden Lion and the months of Oscar speculation that typically follow.