Venice Film Festival Unveils Star-Studded 2026 Lineup, Boyle’s “Ink” to Open

(WS News) – The Venice Film Festival has revealed its 2026 lineup, promising another star-heavy edition of the Lido gathering with Danny Boyle’s “Ink” set to open the festival on September 2.

Artistic director Alberto Barbera unveiled a program packed with awards-season contenders and marquee names, including Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz, and Alicia Vikander, all expected to walk the red carpet at this year’s 83rd Biennale. French director Florian Zeller returns to competition with “Bunker,” a psychological thriller starring Javier Bardem and Cruz as a couple whose marriage unravels after Bardem’s character, a celebrated architect, agrees to design a bunker for a billionaire client. Zeller last competed at Venice in 2022 with “The Son.” Sony Pictures Classics has already picked up North American rights to “Bunker,” while FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales.

Pattinson will headline the world premiere of “Primetime,” the feature debut of documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, in which Pattinson plays NBC newsman Chris Hansen. The lineup also brings back several festival regulars, with new features from directors including Werner Herzog, Hirokazu Koreeda, Lee Chang-dong, and Nanni Moretti rounding out a competition slate with strong award-season pedigree.

Barbera also confirmed that Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are expected to make an appearance at the festival. With a new Martin McDonagh-directed feature also launching from the Lido, following the awards success of the director’s earlier films, this year’s Venice edition is shaping up as one of the festival’s most closely watched in recent memory heading into the fall awards race.