The Venice Effect: Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the World’s Most Glamorous Film Festival

Why does Venice captivate the world every September? Beyond the films, it is a celebration of cinema, fashion, glamour and timeless Italian allure, where the red carpet becomes part of the mythology.

There is something about Venice in September that feels almost unreal. For a few days, the Lido becomes the centre of the cinematic universe, attracting directors, actors, artists, designers, photographers and the fashion world to an island where cinema and glamour have been intertwined for almost a century.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, taking place from 2 to 12 September 2026, is not simply another film festival. Founded in 1932, Venice is the oldest film festival in the world and remains one of the most prestigious, with a history deeply connected to the evolution of international cinema. Yet its fascination extends far beyond the films themselves.

Getty Images

Perhaps the secret is the setting. Cannes has the Riviera; Venice has something far more cinematic. Arriving by boat, crossing the lagoon, stepping onto the Lido and entering the historic festival buildings already feels like entering a film. The city provides an atmosphere that cannot be manufactured — romantic, mysterious, slightly decadent and profoundly Italian.

And then there is fashion. Venice has become one of the most important stages of the season for haute couture, jewellery and eveningwear. The red carpet is not simply a place to promote a film; it has become a visual conversation between cinema and fashion. Houses dress actors as carefully as filmmakers construct their characters, while stylists, photographers and celebrities transform every arrival into its own cultural moment.

Getty Images

But perhaps what makes Venice particularly irresistible is its sense of permanence. Trends arrive and disappear, but the mythology of Venice remains. The festival carries the weight of decades of cinema while continually making space for new voices, new aesthetics and new forms of storytelling. Its programme moves from major international premieres to emerging filmmakers, restored classics and immersive works, allowing the festival to exist simultaneously in the past, present and future.

This is why everyone watches Venice. We are not only watching films. We are watching culture being dressed, photographed and projected against one of the most beautiful cities ever built.