Venice publishes the programme as Italian cinemas prepare for August releases

The Venice Biennale made the complete programme of the 83rd International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art, directed by Alberto Barbera, available online starting Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00 pm. The event will take place at the Venice Lido from September 2 to 12, 2026, and public bookings will be possible starting Thursday, August 27. The Golden Lion will be awarded, as per tradition, to the best film in the official competition. The available information comes from a single source, the Biennale’s official press release; there are currently no independent confirmations regarding the programme details.

The publication of the programme marks the transition from the announcement phase to the actual organizational phase of the Festival: from this point forward, the schedule of screenings, side events and bookings becomes public and accessible, ahead of the opening set for early September.

While Venice prepares, Italian cinemas are living their own August calendar with new releases. Among the most anticipated titles is Camp Miasma, a horror and slasher film directed by Jane Schoenbrun, starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson among the main cast, arriving on August 19. The film won the Queer Palm at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, an accolade that accompanies its release in Italian cinemas with an already established international profile.

On August 18, meanwhile, Allora balliamo arrives, a French romantic musical comedy directed by Amélie Bonnin, starring Juliette Armanette and Bastien Bouillon in the lead roles. It is a title of opposite genre compared to Camp Miasma: where Schoenbrun’s horror focuses on a dark and disruptive register, Bonnin’s comedy works with the light tones of the romantic musical, a sign of an August programming that alternates very different registers within the same month.

The available dossier specifically indicates these two titles among those releasing in Italian cinemas in August: it shows how the month, traditionally considered a minor season for film releases, is this year hosting films already fresh from major international accolades such as the Cannes Queer Palm. The coming weeks will see attention progressively shift toward Venice, with bookings set to open on August 27.