Lucca Film Festival 2026, Italy

• September 26, 2026
  Event date:
• October 4, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

Lucca Film Festival 2026 will bring international and Italian cinema to Lucca with feature films, short films, competitions, retrospectives, tributes, special screenings, masterclasses, exhibitions and events throughout the historic Tuscan city. The 22nd edition will take place under the artistic direction of Nicola Borrelli. Admission to festival events is free of charge, subject to availability.

The central competitive programme includes the International Feature Film Competition and International Short Film Competition, alongside LFF For Future, Over the Real, special programmes, educational activities and events dedicated to major filmmakers and cinema personalities.

The 2026 edition will also feature Lifetime Achievement Awards for American filmmaker and artist Julian Schnabel and Italian filmmaker and screenwriter Liliana Cavani. The programme combines contemporary cinema with retrospectives, experimental audiovisual work and public encounters.

Festival dates

Lucca Film Festival 2026 will take place from September 26 to October 4, 2026.

The festival will run across multiple days, allowing visitors to attend international competitions, special screenings, filmmaker encounters, masterclasses and cultural events.

The programme can change, so visitors should consult the official festival schedule for the latest screening times and venue information. The festival itself advises audiences to check the updated programme because changes may occur.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venues & festival locations

The festival uses several cinemas, theatres and cultural venues in Lucca.

Important locations for the 2026 programme include:

• Cinema Centrale
• Cinema Astra
• Complesso San Micheletto
• Auditorium Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca
• Centro Storico di Lucca
• Other cultural and exhibition spaces

Cinema Centrale hosts the international feature and short-film competitions, while Complesso San Micheletto is used for retrospectives, special programmes, educational activities and Over the Real events. The Auditorium Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca also hosts screenings, masterclasses and audiovisual programmes.

The historic centre becomes particularly important during Lucca Effetto Cinema, when streets and businesses are transformed into an open-air cinematic environment.

Full programme

The 2026 programme combines competitive cinema with retrospectives, special events and educational activities.

Key programme areas include:

• International Feature Film Competition
• International Short Film Competition
• LFF For Future
• Over the Real
• Retrospectives
• Director and actor tributes
• Italian premieres
• Special screenings
• Masterclasses
• School programmes
• Scrivere Cinema
• Lucca Effetto Cinema
• Exhibitions
• Public encounters
• Award ceremonies

The International Feature Film Competition includes 12 films, while the International Short Film Competition also brings 12 works into competition. The festival’s 2026 programme also includes works selected for LFF For Future and Over the Real.

The festival’s programme extends beyond conventional cinema through audiovisual art, educational activities and events connecting film with Lucca’s historic urban environment.

Featured films & premieres

The 2026 competition programme includes international feature films and short films selected from submissions from around the world.

The International Feature Film Competition is curated as a showcase for emerging directions in contemporary cinema. The competition provides audiences and critics with an opportunity to discover new works and filmmakers working with distinctive cinematic approaches.

The festival also presents Italian premieres. Previous editions have included 12 Italian premieres within the feature-film competition, demonstrating the festival’s emphasis on presenting new international cinema to Italian audiences.

Additional featured films come through retrospectives, special programmes and tributes. The final screening schedule identifies the individual titles and their presentation format.

Directors, actors & guests

Julian Schnabel and Liliana Cavani are confirmed as major guests of the 2026 edition and will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The feature-film competition jury includes Lithuanian director, screenwriter and producer Šarūnas Bartas, Academy Award-winning costume designer Franca Squarciapino and Italian actor, director and screenwriter Michele Riondino.

The festival’s wider programme brings together filmmakers, actors, producers, critics and audiovisual artists through screenings, masterclasses, conversations and special presentations.

Additional guests may be connected with individual films, retrospectives, competitions and cultural programmes.

Screening schedule

The 2026 schedule is organized across several venues and programme sections.

The Cinema Centrale hosts major competition screenings, while Complesso San Micheletto provides space for retrospectives, school activities, Over the Real and other special programmes. Cinema Astra and the Auditorium Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca also contribute to the festival schedule.

Visitors can expect daytime screenings and meetings followed by evening presentations, special films, awards and cultural events.

The official programme should be checked immediately before attending because screening times and programme details can be changed by the organizers.

Ticket types & accreditation

Admission to Lucca Film Festival 2026 events is free of charge, subject to availability. The official 2026 ticket page states that reservations are required and can be made up to three hours before an event or until available places are sold out.

The main access arrangements are therefore:

• Free admission
• Online reservation for bookable events
• Admission subject to venue capacity
• Separate accreditation for press and professional participants
• Additional access procedures for selected masterclasses and encounters

As the 2026 festival uses free admission, there is no standard ticket price to convert into USD. Visitors should reserve places through the official booking system whenever reservation is required.

Industry & professional access

Lucca Film Festival provides opportunities for film professionals, journalists, filmmakers, students and audiovisual artists.

The festival’s competitive structure is particularly relevant to directors and producers presenting new feature films and shorts. The LFF For Future competition also creates a platform for cinema addressing environmental and contemporary social themes.

Press accreditation is available through the festival’s press office. Accredited journalists must request access for cinema screenings, evening events and masterclasses through the designated accreditation procedure.

Professional activities can include:

• Film screenings
• Filmmaker meetings
• Masterclasses
• Press events
• Competition activities
• Industry conversations
• Educational programmes
• Audiovisual art presentations

Red carpet & special events

Lucca Film Festival combines traditional cinema presentations with public events throughout the city.

The festival’s special events can include:

• Lifetime Achievement Awards
• Competition award ceremonies
• Filmmaker encounters
• Masterclasses
• Retrospectives
• Special screenings
• Exhibitions
• Outdoor film performances
• Lucca Effetto Cinema
• School and educational events

Lucca Effetto Cinema is one of the festival’s distinctive city-wide activities. It transforms the historic centre into a living film set, with short performances inspired by cinema taking place in streets, courtyards, shops and other public spaces.

The festival also uses special presentations and award ceremonies to connect audiences directly with filmmakers and invited guests.

Festival rules

Visitors and accredited participants must follow the rules established by the festival and individual venues.

The programme is subject to change, and the festival advises visitors to consult the updated schedule before attending.

Important access requirements include:

• Bookable events require advance reservation.
• Reservations are subject to available capacity.
• Admission remains subject to venue capacity.
• Press accreditation does not automatically replace event-specific access requirements.
• Accredited journalists may need to contact the press office to request access to particular screenings, encounters and masterclasses.
• Visitors should follow venue instructions during screenings and events.

Film submissions are also governed by separate competition regulations concerning eligibility, technical requirements, deadlines and screening materials.

How to get there

Lucca is located in Tuscany and is well connected with other major Tuscan cities.

Lucca railway station provides the most convenient arrival point for visitors travelling by train. From the station, the historic centre and several festival locations can be reached on foot.

Visitors arriving by car can approach Lucca via the regional road and motorway network. The historic centre is enclosed by its famous Renaissance walls, and vehicle access within the central area is restricted.

Pisa International Airport is one of the most convenient airports for international visitors. Florence Airport is another option, particularly for travellers combining the festival with a wider Tuscany itinerary.

Public transport & parking

Walking is one of the most convenient ways to move between festival venues in central Lucca.

Local buses connect the railway station and surrounding neighbourhoods with different parts of the city, while taxis are available for visitors staying outside the centre.

Visitors arriving by car should use designated parking areas outside or around the historic centre because much of the walled city has restricted vehicle access.

During major festival events, parking close to central venues can become limited. Visitors should allow additional walking time when travelling to evening screenings or special events.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can stay inside the historic centre or in surrounding neighbourhoods with convenient access to the festival venues.

Useful areas include:

• Lucca historic centre
• Around Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
• Near Piazza San Michele
• Near Lucca railway station
• Porta Elisa
• Porta San Pietro
• Areas immediately outside the historic walls

Staying inside the historic centre can be particularly convenient because many festival venues, restaurants and cultural attractions are within walking distance.

Accommodation near the railway station can also be useful for visitors arriving by train or planning day trips to other Tuscan destinations.

Food & dining

Lucca offers a wide selection of Tuscan restaurants, cafés, bakeries, wine bars and casual dining venues.

Visitors can try traditional Tuscan dishes alongside local specialties while exploring the historic centre. The area around Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and the central streets provides numerous options for meals between screenings.

Cafés and bakeries are useful for visitors with short breaks between festival events, while restaurants provide a wider choice for evening dining after screenings.

Visitors attending several programmes in different venues should consider the walking time between locations when planning meals.

Accessibility

Accessibility can vary between the festival’s different cinemas, theatres, cultural buildings and outdoor locations.

Visitors requiring wheelchair access, accessible seating or other assistance should contact the festival or the specific venue before attending so arrangements can be confirmed.

Because the festival uses several historic buildings and public spaces, accessibility conditions may differ significantly between locations.

The historic centre can also involve cobbled streets and pedestrian areas, so visitors with mobility requirements should check the most suitable routes to individual venues before travelling.

Best screenings to attend

The International Feature Film Competition provides an opportunity to discover new international cinema and is one of the central components of the festival. The competition includes 12 feature films in the 2026 edition.

The International Short Film Competition is another key programme for visitors interested in emerging filmmakers and short-form storytelling. The festival’s competition structure also gives audiences an opportunity to participate through its popular jury system.

LFF For Future provides a separate programme focused on contemporary environmental and social themes, while Over the Real explores experimental and audiovisual art.

Retrospectives, Lifetime Achievement events and filmmaker masterclasses are also useful choices for visitors interested in cinema history and direct encounters with established figures.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 edition featured 12 films in the International Feature Film Competition and 12 films in the International Short Film Competition. The feature competition presented the selected films as Italian premieres, while the short-film competition brought together works from around the world.

The 2025 programme also included tributes to David Lynch and Pier Paolo Pasolini, programmes dedicated to filmmakers and actors, Over the Real audiovisual art, LFF For Future, school activities and special screenings.

Guests included Kevin Spacey, Gianni Amelio, Michele Riondino and Pietro Marcello, while the festival also featured jury members and filmmakers connected with the competitive sections.

Lucca Effetto Cinema again transformed the historic centre into an open-air film environment, combining cinema-inspired performances with the city’s streets, businesses and public spaces.

Official tickets & accreditation

The official Lucca Film Festival ticket system is used for reservations to festival events. For 2026, the festival states that events are free admission with mandatory reservation, subject to availability. Reservations can be made through the official ticket page up to three hours before an event or until capacity is reached.

Press accreditation is handled separately through the festival’s press and accreditation office. Accredited journalists may need to request access to individual screenings, evening events and masterclasses by contacting the accreditation office.

Official festival information and booking:

https://www.luccafilmfestival.it/

Visitors should use the official festival channels for the latest programme, reservations, accreditation information and any changes to screening arrangements.

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