It’s that time of year again when actors, models and some of the biggest names in entertainment descend upon the floating city of Venice for one of cinema’s most glamorous annual events.
The Venice Film Festival has always been about much more than the films themselves. Between world premieres, standing ovations and prestigious awards, the red carpet has become a spectacle in its own right—a place where fashion history is made in real time.
The 2026 edition has already delivered its fair share of unforgettable moments. From archival couture and custom creations to dramatic silhouettes and old-Hollywood glamour, this year’s guests have embraced the festival’s famously cinematic atmosphere with looks designed to command attention.
As the Venice Film Festival 2026 continues, there will undoubtedly be many more unforgettable fashion moments to come. But from Pamela Anderson’s vibrant satin glamour and Vittoria Ceretti’s Italian couture to Irina Shayk’s dark sophistication, Kendall Jenner’s archival Armani and Mariacarla Boscono’s headline-making Chanel gown, the festival has already delivered an impressive collection of looks.
In Venice, fashion and cinema have always belonged together. And this year, the red carpet is proving once again that some of the festival’s most memorable stories are being told not only on screen, but through the extraordinary clothes worn outside the theatre.
Venice, after all, provides a backdrop unlike any other. Water taxis glide through the lagoon, historic palazzos frame every arrival and the red carpet outside the Palazzo del Cinema transforms into one of fashion’s most closely watched stages. This year, celebrities including Pamela Anderson, Vittoria Ceretti, Irina Shayk, Kendall Jenner and Mariacarla Boscono have ensured that the fashion conversation remains just as exciting as the films premiering throughout the festival.
Here are some of the standout looks from the Venice Film Festival 2026.
Pamela Anderson brings colour to Venice
Pamela Anderson proved once again that simplicity can make the strongest statement. Attending the AmfAR Gala in Venice, the actress and activist stepped out in a striking bright orange satin gown that immediately stood out against the evening’s glamorous surroundings.
The dress was paired with a matching shawl, creating a beautifully coordinated look that felt elegant while still embracing a sense of drama. The vibrant orange shade was a refreshing departure from the traditional black, white and metallic gowns often seen on the Venice red carpet.
Anderson’s recent fashion evolution has been one of the most interesting to watch. In recent years, she has increasingly embraced understated beauty and sophisticated dressing, allowing the clothes—and her natural presence—to speak for themselves. Her Venice appearance perfectly reflected that approach. The satin fabric caught the light beautifully, while the simplicity of the silhouette allowed the bold colour to remain the centre of attention.
It was glamorous, confident and impossible to ignore—the kind of look that proves a single, powerful colour can be just as impactful as the most elaborate couture creation.
Vittoria Ceretti makes a case for modern couture
At the same glamorous occasion, Italian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti delivered one of the evening’s most sophisticated fashion moments in a custom Armani Privé gown.
Ceretti, who has become one of the most influential faces in contemporary fashion, brought effortless confidence to the Venice red carpet. The custom creation perfectly reflected the elegance and craftsmanship associated with Armani Privé, combining refined glamour with the kind of modern sensibility that has made Ceretti a favourite of the fashion industry.
There is something particularly fitting about seeing an Italian supermodel wearing Italian couture in Venice. The combination felt like a celebration of the country’s extraordinary fashion legacy while remaining firmly rooted in the present.
Ceretti has a remarkable ability to make even the most dramatic designs appear effortless, and her Venice appearance was no exception. The look relied on impeccable construction and sophisticated styling rather than unnecessary excess, proving that true red-carpet glamour does not always need to be loud.
In a festival filled with spectacular gowns, Ceretti’s custom Armani Privé moment stood out for its precision, elegance and distinctly Italian sense of sophistication.
Irina Shayk embraces dark glamour
Irina Shayk took a dramatically different approach to red-carpet dressing for The Echo Chamber screening, arriving in a fitted black dress featuring striking lace-up detailing.
The look embraced a darker, more sensual interpretation of Venice glamour. While many celebrities gravitate toward flowing gowns and romantic silhouettes for the festival, Shayk opted for something sharper and more structured.
The fitted silhouette highlighted the dress’s architectural quality, while the lace-up details added an element of edge. It was a confident choice that balanced classic red-carpet elegance with a contemporary attitude.
Black will always have a place on the Venice red carpet, but Shayk demonstrated how the colour can still feel fresh when paired with unexpected details and a strong silhouette. Her appearance was sleek, dramatic and unmistakably modern.
Known for her fearless approach to fashion, Shayk once again showed why she remains one of the most exciting models to watch on any international red carpet. The look was proof that sometimes the strongest fashion statement comes from knowing exactly when to embrace simplicity—and when to add just enough drama.
Kendall Jenner revives a Giorgio Armani classic
Few things generate as much excitement among fashion lovers as a perfectly chosen archival look, and Kendall Jenner delivered exactly that at the Venice Film Festival.
The supermodel arrived wearing a shimmering gold floral sequin dress from Giorgio Armani’s autumn/winter 1995 collection. The vintage runway piece brought a sense of fashion history to one of the festival’s most glamorous evenings.
Covered in intricate embellishment, the dress captured the light from every angle, creating an unmistakably cinematic effect. Its gold tones and floral details felt luxurious without appearing overly traditional, while the archival connection added another layer of significance to the moment.
Wearing vintage has become an increasingly important part of modern celebrity style. Beyond creating memorable fashion moments, archival pieces allow stars to revisit the creative legacies of some of the industry’s most important designers.
Jenner’s Giorgio Armani look did exactly that. Rather than simply wearing a beautiful gown, she brought a piece of fashion history back into the spotlight.
The choice also felt especially appropriate for Venice—a festival where cinema, history and glamour constantly intersect. In a week filled with new collections and contemporary couture, Jenner reminded everyone that some of the most exciting fashion moments can come from looking back.
Mariacarla Boscono steals the show in Chanel
If Venice is a city made for theatrical fashion, Mariacarla Boscono understood the assignment perfectly.
The Italian model arrived in a spectacular Chanel Cruise 2027 ballgown covered in French newspaper headlines, creating one of the most memorable and conversation-starting looks of the festival so far.
The elongated gown transformed typography into high fashion, with headlines covering the design from top to bottom. The concept immediately brought to mind the famous newspaper-print dresses that have become iconic in fashion history, but Boscono’s Chanel creation offered its own dramatic interpretation.
The result was bold, playful and undeniably theatrical—a look that demanded attention from every angle.
There is something wonderfully appropriate about wearing the headlines while becoming one. Boscono’s appearance quickly established itself as one of those fashion moments designed for photographs, social media and endless red-carpet conversations.
The Chanel gown also represented what makes Venice such a fascinating fashion event. Unlike other film festivals, Venice often encourages celebrities and models to take risks. The atmosphere is glamorous, historic and slightly surreal, making it the perfect setting for fashion that pushes beyond conventional red-carpet expectations.
Boscono’s look did exactly that. It was not simply a beautiful gown; it was a statement.
