Clooneys Arrive by Boat for Venice Film Festival Opening Night

George Clooney and his wife, Amal, arrived by water in Venice on Tuesday to attend the opening night of the 2026 Venice Film Festival, also known as the Mostra. The couple traveled across the lagoon to the Lido, where the festival's premiere events are held, according to parismatch.com.

The festival's opening ceremony is set to feature Clooney prominently, with reports from BFM indicating that the red carpet was rolled out specifically for the actor's evening. Paris Match described the couple as taking to the Venetian waters as part of their campaign to win over the festival crowd.

This year's edition of the Mostra, which began on September 1, is not without its tensions. Le Monde reports that the festival's opening comes amid several controversies. Adding to the complex atmosphere, franceinfo notes that Hollywood's presence is reduced this year, with French and Italian productions taking a larger share of the official selection.

The reduced American footprint marks a shift for a festival that typically serves as a major launchpad for awards-season contenders. With fewer big-budget U.S. titles in the lineup, European cinema is expected to dominate the conversation over the next ten days.

george clooney

Clooney's arrival nonetheless gives the festival a high-profile Hollywood anchor for its opening night, even as the broader program leans more heavily on local filmmaking. The actor is no stranger to the Lido, having premiered several films there over his career.

As the festival unfolds, all eyes will be on whether the controversies flagged by Le Monde overshadow the screenings, or whether the films themselves—particularly the French and Italian entries—manage to seize the spotlight. The Clooneys' presence on the water signals that star power remains a key draw, even in a year when Tinseltown is keeping a lower profile in Venice.