Venice Film Festival
Hotel Excelsior × Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest in the world. Since its very first edition in 1932, Hotel Excelsior has been its home - the place where directors, actors and producers have gathered, celebrated and occasionally made history. That connection isn't a detail. It runs through the walls.
The History
The story begins in 1908. Conceived by Venetian entrepreneur Nicolò Spada and designed by architect Giovanni Sardi, Hotel Excelsior opened its doors to an inauguration attended by 30,000 Venetians and over 3,000 guests from around the world. The Gazzetta di Venezia called it a "fairy-tale castle" the morning after.
In 1932, the Venice Film Festival held its very first edition on the hotel's terrace. Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, the names from that first gathering read like a dispatch from cinema's golden age. They kept coming. Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn. Federico Fellini. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Winston Churchill. John Steinbeck. Generation after generation, the world's most celebrated names crossed the lagoon and arrived here.
The Sala Stucchi, the hotel's grand top-floor room, with its baroque vaulted ceilings and views over the Adriatic has witnessed more than any room in Venice has a right to. Sergio Leone filmed scenes from Once Upon a Time in America here. It has hosted formal dinners, Festival receptions and private gatherings that the participants never quite spoke about.
The hotel's terraces and beach have been the backdrop to conversations that shaped world cinema, and to stories that never made it to camera. We don't just host the Festival. We're woven into it.
Stay during the Festival
Stay during the Festival. There's nothing else quite like it. In late August and early September, the Lido transforms. The hotel is at its most alive - screenings, parties, arrivals by boat, the red carpet just along the shore. Since 1932, guests have had the best seat in the house. Here's yours. Dates for 2026 Venice Film Festival: announced by La Biennale are 2nd September to 12th September, 2026.
Your questions answered
The Festival will take place from 2 September to 12 September 2026.
Since 1932, the very first edition. Hotel Excelsior has been the official home of the Venice Film Festival for over ninety years. The connection is woven into the fabric of the hotel.
Yes, the Film Festival period is one of our most sought-after times of year. We strongly recommend booking well in advance if you plan to visit during this time.
The Festival takes place across venues on the Lido, with main screenings at the Palazzo del Cinema. As our guest, you're perfectly placed for the full experience. Our team can advise on accreditation and public screenings.