The 83rd Venice International Film Festival officially opens on September 2, 2026, and runs through September 12. Even before the first red carpet, the Lido island has turned into a star-studded runway: actors, directors, and other guests are arriving by water taxi and train, showcasing relaxed daytime looks that sharply contrast with the evening premieres. The XAB.info editorial team has gathered the first confirmed celebrity appearances and documented the looks in which they arrived in Venice.
Clooney — the First Stars of the Lido
Among the first headline names, even before the official opening, were George and Amal Clooney. The couple arrived on the Lido by water taxi, effectively giving photographers one of the festival's first cinematic shots. Amal chose an olive satin Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann suit, complemented by large dark sunglasses. George appeared in a more understated look — a dark polo shirt and light trousers. For the actor, Venice is special this year: during the opening ceremony he will receive an honorary "Golden Lion" for his contribution to cinema, making his arrival not just a star moment but a programmatic event.
The Jury and the Opening Film
Maggie Gillenhal has already arrived in Venice, where this year she heads the international jury of the festival's main competition. For her first appearance she chose a minimalist combination of a dark blue jacket with a cinched waist and wide white trousers. Claire Foy also made an appearance on the Lido: the actress came to present one of the main films of the first day — Danny Boyle's "Ink," which opens the festival. In contrast to the evening gowns to come, Foy opted for a casual daytime look with a beige jacket, jeans, and glasses.
Other Guests on the First Day
Jack O'Connell chose a minimalist casual look for his arrival: a black T-shirt, light blue jeans, brown boots, and black sunglasses. Among the festival's first guests is the French-Italian actor Nicolas Mupas, who, together with Greta Scarano, became the host of Venice's ceremonies; for his appearance on the Lido he opted for a classic suit without excessive formality. It is worth noting separately that Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco arrived in Venice as early as August 30 on the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, that is, before the official start of the event.
Contradictory Data
The source material contains a minor inconsistency in its presentation: the illustration accompanying the mention of Claire Foy actually depicts the arrival of George and Amal Clooney by water taxi, not the actress herself. In addition, the arrival dates of certain guests (in particular, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco — August 30) precede the festival's official start on September 2, which may create the impression of an "early" presence, although in fact this is simply early guest logistics. Both versions are stated openly: according to photo documentation, the Clooneys are the first documented guests, while Foy and other actors arrived as part of the preparations for the opening ceremony.
