Venice prepares to reveal 2026 festival slate
Alberto Barbera is due to announce the Venice Film Festival lineup, with Danny Boyle’s Ink already set to open the event.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
The Venice Film Festival is about to put names to its 2026 lineup, with festival head Alberto Barbera scheduled to present the official selection at a 10 a.m. local-time press conference.
The announcement is being carried by the Biennale’s YouTube channel, where the festival is expected to confirm the films screening at this year’s edition. The competition and out-of-competition titles are the big-ticket items still to be filled in.
One major slot is already taken. Festival organizers have announced that Danny Boyle’s Ink, a Rupert Murdoch biopic, will open the festival on September 2 in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido.
Danny Boyle brings Murdoch story to the Lido
Ink stars Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy. Boyle directs from a screenplay by James Graham, based on Graham’s Tony-nominated play of the same name.
According to the festival’s earlier announcement, O’Connell plays Larry Lamb, the editor of The Sun. Pearce plays Rupert Murdoch, while Foy appears as Jules Davies.
Barbera previously described the film as a story about Murdoch’s purchase of The Sun and his decision to put Lamb in charge, with the paper becoming Britain’s best-selling tabloid while competing against The Mirror.
The festival has also named its closing film. Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride will screen out of competition at the end of the event. Veronesi wrote and directed the film, whose cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Silvio Orlando, Alma Noce, Francesco Gheghi, Maurizio Lombardi, Paolo Rossi and Carlo Cecchi.
Golden Lions and jury lineup confirmed
Venice has already set two major honors for this year’s edition. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will receive Golden Lions for lifetime achievement, according to the festival.
Maggie Gyllenhaal will preside over the competition jury. She will be joined by Kaouther Ben Hania, Daniel Blumberg, Francesco Casetti, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat and Johnnie To.
The 2026 Venice Film Festival is scheduled to run from September 2 through September 12. The full slate, including the main competition and out-of-competition sections, is expected to be confirmed during Barbera’s presentation.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.