The Venice Film Festival: How to Do the Lido Without a Press Pass
Photo: Fabian Kleiser / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
Everyone assumes the world's oldest film festival is a closed shop — a velvet rope stretched between you and the movies. It isn't. From 2 to 12 September 2026, the Venice International Film Festival takes over the Lido, and a surprising amount of it is open to anyone willing to plan a little. You don't need an invitation to feel the electricity of premiere night. You need a vaporetto ticket and the right attitude.
The Lido is the real venue, not the postcard Venice
Skip the mental image of gondolas and packed St. Mark's for a moment. The festival happens on the Lido, the long sandbar island a 15-minute boat ride from the historic centre. It's leafy, faintly Art Deco, and in early September it has that end-of-summer feeling — beach clubs winding down, the Palazzo del Cinema buzzing. The contrast is the whole point: you can spend the morning swimming in the Adriatic and the evening watching a Competition film that might win the Golden Lion.
Base yourself either on the Lido itself (quieter, closer to the action, books out fast) or in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro in central Venice, away from the tourist crush around Rialto. The night boats run late during the festival, so getting back after a screening isn't a problem.
Getting in as a regular human
- Public accreditation exists. Each year the festival sells passes to cinema-loving members of the public, not just industry — check the Biennale site the moment registration opens in summer, because the good ones go quickly.
- Single tickets for many screenings, including some evening premieres at the Sala Grande, go on sale online in advance. Set a reminder.
- Sala Giardino and the open-air arena are your best bets for spontaneity and atmosphere.
- Around the red carpet on the Sala Grande, there's public space where you can watch the arrivals — glamour for the price of standing patiently.
Dress smart-casual for evening screenings. Italians take this seriously, and you'll feel out of place in beachwear.
Beyond the films
The festival gives you an excuse to see Venice at its best month. September light is softer, the worst of the summer heat and crowds has broken, and the aperitivo culture is in full swing. Do as the locals do: a spritz and cicchetti — small bites, think baccalà mantecato on crostini — standing at a bacaro counter before dinner. In Dorsoduro, wander to the Zattere for a waterside stroll; the sunset over the Giudecca canal rivals anything on screen.
The practical bit from Tel Aviv
Direct flights from TLV to Venice Marco Polo run frequently, putting you on the Lido in a few hours. From the airport, the Alilaguna water bus glides you straight into the lagoon — a far more fitting arrival than any taxi. Book accommodation early; festival dates squeeze availability across the whole city.
Come for one prestigious film. Stay for the light, the water, and the espresso.