Every August or September, Venice becomes a stage for cinema. Well, that and fashion.
As the world’s celebrities descend on the Venice Film Festival, the red carpet becomes a spectacle in its own right, with dramatic gowns, sharp tailoring and a healthy dose of old-Hollywood glamour taking centre stage.
This year was no exception, as recognisable faces from showbiz and beyond arrived in looks designed to command attention, from understated elegance to unapologetic showstoppers.
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As usual, the women take the fashion crown.
Female stars such as Mariacarla Boscono, Nina Dobrev and Parker Posey were decked out in flowing gowns, putting their voluminous skirts to work as they spun and swept around to create moments of drama.
While Kendall Jenner and Sydney Sweeney literally shone in shimmering dresses, Phoebe Waller-Bridge took a less conventional route with an ensemble featuring a dramatic, flowing cape paired with tailored trousers.
Menswear, meanwhile, has traditionally played it safe on the red carpet.
The classic suit or tuxedo, after all, is a familiar formula, with little need for reinvention when formal is the order of the day.
But even the most traditional of red carpet staples are taking a bolder step forward this year.
Jonathan Bailey’s tuxedo featured barrel-leg trousers and a jacket with curved shoulders and oversized sleeves.
Robert Pattinson, meanwhile, wore a white pinstriped, double-breasted suit that fashion commentators described as 1970s mobster-coded – hardly black tie at all.
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Nicholas Galitzine took things a step further. He wore only a bib-front evening shirt, a style rooted in historical formalwear that would traditionally be worn with a tuxedo jacket or tailcoat.
The Venice Film Festival does not impose a strict dress code on guests, unlike its Cannes counterpart, which banned “nudity” on the red carpet.
That said, a certain level of formality is expected for premieres, with black tie and elegant eveningwear generally recommended.
Beyond that, attendees and celebrities have relatively free rein to experiment with fashion.
2026 Venice Film Festival red carpet fashion
Nina Dobrev twirls in an Armani gown featuring green chiffon panels. Photo: AFP
Mariacarla Boscono wears a spectacular newspaper printed gown from the Chanel Cruise 2027 collection. Photo: Reuters
Nicholas Galitzine, sans jacket and instead wearing a crisp Emporio Armani shirt, makes a statement on the red carpet. Photo: Instagram/Nicholas Galitzine
Robert Pattinson poses in a Dior suit that looks as though it stepped straight out of a vintage mafia film. Photo: Reuters
Phoebe Waller-Bridge takes the less conventional route in a dramatic cape and trouser look from Celine. Photo: AFP
Parker Posey’s diaphanous Valentino dress looks simple but comes with an embellished collar. Photo: Reuters
Kendall Jenner’s metallic floral dress is pulled from the Armani archives. Photo: AFP
Jonathan Bailey wears a loose Armani tuxedo with an unconventional silhouette. Photo: AP
Sydney Sweeney glitters in a sequined Armani dress for one event. Photo: Reuters
