The latest

Kendall Jenner, John Malkovich and Parker Posey were among the arrivals at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, beginning 10 days of screenings and red-carpet appearances on the island of Lido. Jenner attended the “Wild Horse Nine” screening in vintage Armani, while Malkovich appeared in a Dior wool suit with an off-white removable collar. George and Amal Clooney, Penélope Cruz, Robert Pattinson and Patrick Schwarzenegger are also expected, bringing Hollywood attention to films competing for the Golden Lion. The festival typically brings stars by boat to the small island each September, combining its formal red carpet with a slate described as deep, dark and politically charged.

Details

• Opening night: Danny Boyle’s “Ink” opened the festival on its first night. Adapted from the acclaimed play, it follows the early years of Rupert Murdoch, played by Guy Pearce, and his acquisition of the London tabloid newspaper “The Sun.”
• Shared romance: Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard” stars sisters Kate and Rooney Mara as two women who fall in love with the same man, played by Orlando Bloom. The film followed Boyle’s opener in the festival program and is among the titles in the Golden Lion race.
• Marriage under strain: Florian Zeller’s “Bunker” casts real-life partners Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem as a married couple. Their relationship comes under pressure after the husband agrees to build a survivalist bunker for a technology billionaire.
• Gender imbalance: Only two films directed by women are in the main competition: May el-Toukhy’s “Woman Unknown” and Rachel Szor’s “NAZA.” Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal called the financing barriers facing female filmmakers a systemic problem. “Who decides what’s good and valuable?” she asked.
• Noncompeting short: Gyllenhaal is also screening a short Marilyn Monroe biopic starring Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn. The film is outside the competition, while Gyllenhaal presides over the jury assessing this year’s contenders.
• Music arrivals: Musicians Phoebe Bridgers and brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher are expected to attend. The Gallaghers rarely appear on a red carpet, particularly together, adding another draw to a relatively limited roster of Hollywood stars.

Background

Venice has developed into a major fashion platform, fueling the industry’s marketing machine alongside its role as an early indicator of Oscars prospects. Last year, Julia Roberts lent Amanda Seyfried her Dario Vitale Versace suit. Ayo Edebiri made her Venice debut in a custom red strapless Chanel dress that teased Matthieu Blazy’s new direction. Greta Lee similarly wore Dior to signal Jonathan Anderson’s work. With fewer Hollywood stars expected this year, the fashion may take a more considered and cerebral turn, though the music guests broaden the red-carpet interest.

What’s next

The main competition screenings will continue across the 10-day festival before the jury selects the 2026 Golden Lion winner.